Earlier this offseason, the Green Bay Packers traded defensive lineman Colby Wooden, who was going into the final year of his rookie contract, for then-Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin. Since joining the Packers, Franklin has been the team’s starting Mike after Quay Walker signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, received a new contract and was even named a team captain in the team’s preseason opener.
Apparently, though, the Colts’ end of the bargain hasn’t been going so well.
On Sunday, ESPN/NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport announced that Indianapolis will be waiving Wooden, who started as Green Bay’s out-of-place nose tackle in 2025 — following Kenny Clark’s inclusion in the Micah Parsons trade. Wooden will have a new home, be it as a free agent or as a waiver claim.
Considering the Packers’ depth at the position, it seems unlikely that he’d return to Green Bay on his one-year deal, unless the team thinks he’s a better 3-4 nose tackle prospect than Jonathan Ford, who has been the team’s “starter” in their base looks — which should make up about one-third of their defensive snaps this season. With that being said, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the team’s move to a 3-4 defense came with the team moving on from their 2025 nose tackle, who was just 273 pounds coming out of college — though he’s visibly bulked up since 2024, even though his listed weight on rosters hasn’t changed.
Best of luck to Wooden, wherever he ends up. Not many players can say that they started off sub 280 pounds and were able to get NFL starts for a playoff team at nose tackle. He wasn’t always put in the best positions, but he didn’t flinch when asked to step up.
