INDIA PARK – Zaire Franklin made the initial request for a pay raise following the previous season.

In order to reward a top special team player, the Colts first re-signed Franklin in the spring of 2022, with the understanding that his primary duty would remain on 4th down going forward.

But with the entrance of new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and Shaquille Leonard’s untimely physical decline, Franklin would transform from a reliable core special team player to an essential defensive player very rapidly.

Franklin therefore desired payment in a way that he believed was appropriate.

Franklin requested a pay raise from the Colts after the ’22 season for this reason.

But with the entrance of new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and Shaquille Leonard’s untimely physical decline, Franklin would transform from a reliable core special team player to an essential defensive player very rapidly.

Franklin therefore desired payment in a way that he believed was appropriate.

Franklin requested a pay raise from the Colts after the ’22 season for this reason.

Franklin’s role is the reason for his wage raise, to put it numerically.

Franklin participated in 65 games between 2018 and 21 for a total of 462 defensive snaps. That represents 462 defensive snaps out of 4,201 (or 9.9%), never surpassing 17 percent of defensive snaps in any of his first four seasons.

Franklin has been one of this team’s most vital players ever since he signed a contract extension with the Colts for the first time after the 2021 season. In 2022, Franklin played 1,034 defensive snaps without missing a single one. Then, out of 1,171 snaps possible in 2018, he recorded 1,089 snaps. The amount of work that Franklin has received over the past two years is unmatched by any member of the Colts defense.