Since Shane Steichen has taken over as head coach, the Indianapolis Colts have undergone some major changes in their defense. The position that has seen the biggest changes has been linebacker.
In free agency last season, the team lost Bobby Okereke to the New York Giants. During the season, they moved on from former All-Pro Shaquille Leonard, releasing him as he was no longer seen as a scheme fit with his playing time being cut back.
One of the players who was able to survive the changes was Zaire Franklin. He stepped into a major role alongside Okereke in 2022 when Leonard was injured and thrived, recording 167 tackles with 3.0 sacks in 17 starts.
In 2023, he proved that performance was not a fluke. He started 16 games and recorded a career-high 179 tackles with 1.5 sacks, six passes defended and two forced fumbles. He was on the field for 99 percent of the defensive snaps in the games he played after playing 100 percent of the snaps the season before.
Knowing how important Franklin is to their defense, the Colts have decided to long him into a long-term deal. It was announced on Monday morning that Indianapolis agreed to a three-year, $31.26 million extension with Franklin. The update was provided by Adam Schefter of ESPN and confirmed by his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln.
Franklins finished the season ranked 59th out of 82 qualified linebackers per PFF’s overall grades, but it is clear he is an integral part of the team’s defense. He stepped up when they needed him most and has continued that production ever since receiving his first opportunity.
With Franklin locked in long-term, the Colts can turn their attention to other items on their to-do list. Arguably the most important one is working out a long-term deal with wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who had the franchise tag placed on him earlier this offseason.
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