{"id":844074,"date":"2026-03-31T01:34:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T01:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/844074\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T01:34:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T01:34:13","slug":"packers-gm-explains-trade-for-zaire-franklin-early-free-agent-signings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/844074\/","title":{"rendered":"Packers GM explains trade for Zaire Franklin, early free agent signings"},"content":{"rendered":"

March 30, 2026, 8:01 p.m. CT<\/p>\n

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst discussed trading for veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin and signing defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste and receiver\/returner Skyy Moore during free agency while answering questions at the league’s annual meeting in Phoenix on Monday.<\/p>\n

On Franklin, Gutekunst said the Packers previously attempted to acquire him from the Indianapolis Colts early in his career, and the team likes his fit as a veteran replacement for Quay Walker at middle linebacker and in the locker room.<\/p>\n

“Obviously very good leader, as well, captain there, so I think as we kind of went down and we realized it was gonna be really tough to get Quay back, I wanted to make sure we had an answer at middle linebacker, particularly one that might have some veteran presence, and I think we were excited to accomplish that,” Gutekunst said.<\/p>\n

Franklin has four straight seasons with 100 or more tackles and is just one year removed from an All-Pro season in 2024. He turns 30 in July.<\/p>\n

The Packers signed Hargrave, who was a highly disruptive player under Jonathan Gannon in Philadelphia, after he was released by the Minnesota Vikings. Gutekunst sees a complete defensive tackle who still has plenty left in the tank even after 33 years old.<\/p>\n

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“He’s been an exceptional player in his career. He’s been one of those guys who have excelled as a run stopper and pass rusher, he’s a complete player,” Gutekunst said.<\/p>\n

Gutekunst admitted that because Hargrave was released and wouldn’t count against the compensatory pick formula, the fit in Green Bay made sense. He also said the team consulted with Gannon on both Franklin and Hargrave given their previous histories together in Indianapolis and Philadelphia, respectively.<\/p>\n

In St-Juste, Gutekunst thinks the Packers are getting a quality perimeter cornerback coming off a solid 2025 season with the Los Angeles Chargers.<\/p>\n

“He was that third corner, and whenever he got his opportunity to really play, I thought he played a very, very high level,” Gutekunst said. “We liked him a lot coming out of the draft, his size and length on the outside is something we didn’t have a lot of, something we wanted to get. He was kind of a target for us. Took a little longer than I would’ve hoped but nice to finally get that done right as we started on Wednesday.”<\/p>\n

The Packers are hoping Moore, who was highly productive in his first full season as a returner last year in San Francisco, can revitalize the return game in Green Bay.<\/p>\n

“Last year was one of the first years he really had an expanded role as a returner, and he did an outstanding job,” Gutekunst said. “He was one of the better guys that did both in the league last year and just as we went through that, and had an opportunity to get him, that was something last year with our special teams that we needed to kind of add to, so excited to get him and see what he can do for us.”<\/p>\n

Gutekunst said the return game wasn’t good enough in 2025. He also thinks Moore, a second-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022, has potential in Matt LaFleur’s offense.<\/p>\n

Hear more from Gutekunst below:<\/p>\n

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