The Indianapolis Colts needed to make the move. Linebacker Zaire Franklin was a team leader, but maybe not the kind that the Indy brass wanted. He was a solid player against the run, but had deficiencies elsewhere. So, general manager Chris Ballard traded Franklin to the Green Bay Packers.
Ballard had stated early in the offseason that he wanted to get younger and more athletic on the team's defensive front seven. Franklin would be 30 years old by Week 1 of the 2026 season. To prove Ballard's approach wasn't meaningless words, the team ultimately traded Franklin and replaced him with second-round draft pick CJ Allen.
Speaking with NFL insider Ian Rapoport recently, the linebacker said that during the process, the Colts and Ballard specifically treated him with respect. He was given a heads-up on what was likely unfolding, and Franklin was appreciative of that.
Zaire Franklin says all the right things about the Indianapolis Colts trading him to the Green Bay Packers
"Much love to (Chris) Ballard because he kind of gave me and my agent our choice of what opportunity fits us best," Franklin said. "Obviously, he wanted some necessary compensation back on his side as well...I just thought we handled it with class, and I went to a first-rate organization."
While the linebacker did say some things untoward about the Indianapolis organization on his podcast, he still seemed to be a team-first player. He said those things because he wanted to win, not trash Ballard or head coach Shane Steichen.
The linebacker will likely say things during next season that might ruffle the feathers of Colts fans, too, but only because he is now a member of the Packers. He will be team-first for Green Bay, of course, and that might come across as negative toward Indy.
He probably doesn't mean it that way, however. While he could have been much better in pass coverage, he wasn't a bad guy off the field. Outspoken at times? Sure, but always about on-field things.
The fun part could come after Zaire Franklin retires, however. He would probably like to have a career in media, based on his podcast, and he would probably be very good at that. He understands the game, and he has a passionate way of talking about it.
Plus, he might have a good chance of getting to the playoffs next season as the Packers should be a good team in the difficult NFC North. Hopefully, CJ Allen takes his spot for the Indianapolis Colts and improves the defense overall. That could be enough to get Indy to the postseason, too.
An NFL trade is not always a win-win, but in the case of Franklin, the move might be. If so, all involved will have saved their jobs past 2026.
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