The Green Bay Packers have already got Quay Walker’s alternative.
On Saturday, ESPN NFL insider reporter Adam Schefter shared that the Packers have agreed to phrases on a commerce with the Indianapolis Colts, sending defensive deal with Colby Picket to Indianapolis in alternate for linebacker Zaire Franklin.
The eight-year veteran has spent his total profession with the Colts and was named second-team All-Professional in 2024 when he led the league with 174 tackles. He is made 42 consecutive begins and has solely missed one sport because of harm in his profession. With linebackers Isaiah McDuffie, 26, and Edgerrin Cooper, 24, additionally beneath contract for 2026, re-signing Walker, a 2022 first-round choose, is way much less of a precedence, notably if he will get a contract price $15 million yearly, as suggested by ESPN Packers reporters Rob Demovsky.
Zaire Franklin commerce insulates Packers from results of seemingly Quay Walker loss
Per Over The Cap, Inexperienced Bay is at present $1.94M above the 2026 wage cap following the Franklin transaction, and whereas it is going to be in a position to liberate house through restructures, it is also not ready to get in a bidding struggle for Walker.
Cooper, a 2024 second-round choose (No. 45 total), began 16 video games final season and ranked second on the crew with 118 tackles. McDuffie, a 2021 sixth-rounder (No. 220 total), appeared in all 17 video games for the second yr in a row as a rotational defender and key special-teamer and had 92 tackles and an interception in 807 whole snaps.
Walker led the crew in tackles (128) in 2025, his fourth consecutive season to begin his profession with not less than 100 tackles.
Whereas he is been a productive participant, he’ll most certainly proceed his profession elsewhere because the Packers look to recover from the hump after back-to-back wild-card exits.
Franklin can play an identical function whereas offering extra veteran management and coming with a smaller $7M cap quantity. That is a win for Inexperienced Bay, placing the crew in a fairly great place for one about to lose its former first-round choose for nothing.
