The Indianapolis Colts’ Zaire Franklin was on the outside looking in at the top 10 linebacker rankings for the 2025 season.
With insights from NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has been compiling his ranking of the top 10 players at each position group.
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Along with the top 10 list, he’s also highlighted those who were honorable mentions and which players received votes. For Franklin, he was in the honorable mention category with 10 other linebackers.
Last season, Franklin led the entire NFL in tackles, and he was named to his first Pro Bowl, along with being a second-team All-Pro.
In addition to his whopping 173 total tackles, Franklin set a career high with 15 pressures, four sacks, and two interceptions as well.
Franklin could benefit greatly from this new-look defense under Lou Anarumo. For one, Jaylon Carlies, who brings a coverage presence to the position as a former college safety, pairs well with Franklin’s skill set.
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But in addition to that, with Anarumo relying more heavily on defensive backs, that could result in Franklin having more opportunities near the line of scrimmage, which is where he is at his best.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts Zaire Franklin an honorable mention among best LBs by NFL execs