Colts give Franklin 3-year, $31.26M extension

The Indianapolis Colts are signing linebacker Zaire Franklin to a three-year, $31.26-million extension, his agents told Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Franklin, a 2018 seventh-round pick, has become an integral part of the Colts' defense over the last two seasons after primarily acting as a depth piece during his first four years with the club.

The 27-year-old racked up a combined 346 tackles, 4.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and 12 pass defenses in 33 appearances over the last two years. He had a career-high 178 tackles in 2023, which ranked second in the NFL.

Franklin was heading into the final season of a three-year, $10-million pact signed in 2022.

The linebacker's new salary average of just over $10 million per season ranks seventh at his position, according to Over The Cap.