A year after making headlines for all the wrong reasons regarding player relations with ownership, the Indianapolis Colts are doing right by one of their own. Last offseason, the contract dispute between Colts owner Jim Irsay and All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor left a bitter taste in the mouths of many fans, and highlighted how little NFL teams value running backs. So far this offseason, though, the Colts look like they are rewarding their players for good play.
Zaire Franklin, a seventh round pick (235th overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft, did not see the field much outside of special teams during his first four years with the Colts. However, over the last two seasons, he has a combined 346 total tackles. He was scheduled to make less than $3 million in 2024, the final year of his contract. Indianapolis, however, did not want to wait to reward him.
The Indianapolis Colts Give Zaire Franklin a Three-Year Extension
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Franklin was signed to a three year extension worth over $31 million:
Before free agency, an extension: The #Colts are signing LB Zaire Franklin to a 3-year, $31.26M extension, per agents Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2024
This past season, Franklin played over 1,000 defensive snaps and recorded 179 total tackles. Last season, he played over 1,100 defensive snaps and had 167 total tackles and 3.0 sacks.
Zaire Franklin Was the Indianapolis Colts’ Walter Payton Man of the Year Nominee
This past year, Franklin was the Colts’ nomination for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for his work with his foundation, Shelice’s Angels. According to NFL.com:
“Shelice’s Angels — named after Franklin’s late mother and created to honor her and his grandmother, two strong women who raised him — offers young women the opportunities and resources to help build self-esteem and become equipped to eventually enter the professional workforce.”
Cameron Heyward of the Pittsburgh Steelers ended up winning the award, but Franklin, like all nominees, received a $55,000 donation from the NFL to the charity of his choice.
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