Zaire Franklin

Indianapolis Colts, Inside Linebacker
Age: 29y-8m-3d (Jul 02, 1996)
Exp: 7 Years
Country: US
College: Syracuse
Drafted: Round 7 (#235 overall), 2018
Agent(s): Drew Rosenhaus (Rosenhaus Sports)
2026 Cap Hit

$8,255,000

2026 Cash

$7,005,000

Career Earnings

$28,264,857

2024-2027 Extension (CURRENT)

Zaire Franklin signed a 3 year, $31,260,000 contract with the Indianapolis Colts, including $5,000,000 signing bonus, $17,620,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $10,420,000. In 2026, Franklin will earn a base salary of $6,240,000, while carrying a cap hit of $8,255,000 and a dead cap value of $2,500,000.
Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $31,260,000
Average Salary:
$10,420,000
Signing Bonus:
$5,000,000
GTD at Sign:
$17,620,000
Total GTD:
$17,620,000
Free Agent:
2028 / UFA
MANAGE CONTRACT
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2024 28 $8,610,000 3.37% $12,390,000 $12,390,000 $17,620,000
2025 29 $7,507,560 2.69% $6,257,560 $18,647,560 $9,497,560
POTENTIAL OUT: 2026, 2 YR, $18,647,560; $2,500,000 DEAD CAP
2026 30 $8,255,000 2.72% $7,005,000 $25,652,560 $2,500,000
2027 31 $10,255,000 3.22% $9,005,000 $34,657,560 $1,250,000
2028 32
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Proration Roster Bonus Active/GM Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Cap Hit Cap % League Dead Cap
2024 28 $2,880,000 $1,250,000 $4,000,000 $480,000 - $8,610,000 3.37% $17,620,000
2025 29 $5,740,000 $1,250,000 - $510,000 $7,560 $7,507,560 2.69% $9,497,560
POTENTIAL OUT: 2026, 2 YR, $18,647,560; $2,500,000 DEAD CAP
2026 30 $6,240,000 $1,250,000 - $765,000 - $8,255,000 2.72% $2,500,000
2027 31 $8,240,000 $1,250,000 - $765,000 - $10,255,000 3.22% $1,250,000
2028 32
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Active/Gm Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2024 28 $2,880,000 $5,000,000 $4,000,000 $510,000 - $12,390,000 $12,390,000 $34,657,560
2025 29 $5,740,000 - - $510,000 $7,560 $6,257,560 $18,647,560 $22,267,560
POTENTIAL OUT: 2026, 2 YR, $18,647,560; $2,500,000 DEAD CAP
2026 30 $6,240,000 - - $765,000 - $7,005,000 $25,652,560 $16,010,000
2027 31 $8,240,000 - - $765,000 - $9,005,000 $34,657,560 $9,005,000
Contract Notes

  • $17.62M guaranteed (signing bonus + 2024 salary + 2024 roster bonus + 2025 salary)
  • 2024-2025 Per Game Active Bonus: $30,000 ($510,000
  • 2026-2027 Per Game Active Bonus: $45,000 ($765,000)

Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2022-2024 Pending Free Agent Extension

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $10,000,000
Average Salary:
$3,333,333
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
$4,000,000
Total GTD:
$4,000,000
Free Agent:
2025 / UFA
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2018-2021 Rookie

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $2,547,057
Average Salary:
$636,764
Signing Bonus:
$87,057
GTD at Sign:
$87,057
Total GTD:
$87,057
Free Agent:
2022 / UFA
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Seasons

7 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$30,104,857

Earnings w/ Different Teams

1 team

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2018 22
Active
$567,057
$567,057
2019 23
Active
$570,000
$1,137,057
2020 24
Active
$1,010,240
$2,147,297
2021 25
Active
Active
Active
$920,000
$920,000
$920,000
$3,067,297
$3,987,297
$4,907,297
2022 26
Active
$3,580,000
$8,487,297
2023 27
Active
$2,970,000
$11,457,297
2024 28
Active
$12,390,000
$23,847,297
 Afc Pro Bowl:ILB All NFL (2nd)
2025 29
Active
$6,257,560
$30,104,857
Total      
$30,104,857
$30,104,857
2026 30
Active
$7,005,000
2027 31
Active
$9,005,000
Total
$46,114,857

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
8 $16,770,000 $5,087,057 $6,480,000 - $7,560 $260,240 $30,104,857
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2018
22
$480,000
$87,057
$567,057
$567,057
2019
23
$570,000
$570,000
$1,137,057
2020
24
$750,000
$260,240
$1,010,240
$2,147,297
2021
25
$920,000
$920,000
$920,000
$920,000
$920,000
$920,000
$3,067,297
$3,987,297
$4,907,297
2022
26
$1,100,000
$2,480,000
$3,580,000
$8,487,297
2023
27
$2,490,000
$2,970,000
$11,457,297
2024
28
$2,880,000
$5,000,000
$4,000,000
$12,390,000
$23,847,297
2025
29
$5,740,000
$7,560
$6,257,560
$30,104,857
Total
$16,770,000
$5,087,057
$6,480,000
$7,560
$260,240
$30,104,857
$30,104,857
2026
30
$6,240,000
$7,005,000
2027
31
$8,240,000
$9,005,000
Total
$31,250,000
$5,087,057
$6,480,000
$7,560
$260,240
$46,114,857

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
8 $16,770,000 $5,087,057 $6,480,000 - $7,560 $260,240 $30,104,857

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2021 IND 15 - 15 COVID-19
  • Oct 17, 2025 Fined $11,593 Late Hit against Arizona (ARI)
  • Sep 13, 2024 Fined $22,511 Impermissible Use of the Helmet against Houston (HOU)
  • Mar 11, 2024 Signed a 3 year $31.26 million contract extension with Indianapolis (IND)
  • Mar 15, 2022 Signed a 3 year $10 million contract extension with Indianapolis (IND)
  • May 11, 2018 Signed a 4 year $2.54 million contract with Indianapolis (IND)
  • Apr 28, 2018 Drafted by Indianapolis (IND): Round 7 (#235 overall)

Fines

Date Reason Fine Amount
Oct 17, 2025 Late Hit against Arizona (ARI) $11,593
Sep 13, 2024 Impermissible Use of the Helmet against Houston (HOU) $22,511
Fines: 2 $34,104
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sack Tackles Total Tackles Solo Tackles Assisted FFum Int
2025 IND 17 17 1,112 103.64 2 125 62 63 1 0
2024 IND 17 17 1,156 106.35 4 173 93 80 5 2
2023 IND 16 16 1,029 89.63 2 179 107 72 2 0
2022 IND 17 17 1,134 98.78 3 166 102 64 3 0
2021 IND 17 11 200 18.00 0 40 21 19 0 1
2020 IND 16 2 86 7.89 0 19 14 5 0 0
2019 IND 16 0 0 0.00 0 6 4 2 0 0
2018 IND 16 2 178 17.00 0 29 14 15 0 0
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