Colts Trade Backfires? Wooden’s Release Explained | Indianapolis Colts News

The Colts traded Zaire Franklin to Green Bay for Colby Wooden, but after cuts, Wooden was released and claimed by the Saints—leaving the Colts with no draft pick or game action from their new addition. GM Chris Ballard stands by the move, saying it created vital competition and depth on defense, helping players like Buck and Grove thrive. While Wooden’s versatility was valuable, he didn’t outperform Jerry Tillery and Tim Smith during camp, who earned roster spots instead. Ballard admits they expected Wooden to be picked up elsewhere—and sees the trade as a win for team culture, even if the outcome wasn’t what they hoped for. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0dfe4e91fef92c1c