Trading Colby Wooden Highlights Green Bay's Biggest Need

The Green Bay Packers made their first big offseason move just before the new league year starts this week. The Packers sent defensive lineman Colby Wooden to the Indianapolis Colts for veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin.

With Quay Walker's price likely too high to retain his services in Green Bay, the Packers got a jump on their linebacker depth by adding a savvy veteran known for playing with heat.

It was always unlikely Walker would return, and this deal means the Packers have a replacement option and won't need to panic over filling the void.

While the trade provides stability to the inside linebacker group, it leaves the Packers even thinner at their most needy position: the interior defensive line.

The Packers already needed to bolster their defensive line and just traded a player who played significant time there in 2025. They still haven't re-signed Devonte Wyatt to a long-term contract, and the rest of their unit is young or unproven, so the Packers need to go shopping in free agency and the draft for starting quality and depth.

When the Packers acquired Micah Parsons in their blockbuster trade last season, they parted with Kenny Clark, the precocious stalwart of their defensive line since the Ted Thompson days.

Clark didn't have the greatest season in 2024, but he's a Pro Bowl-level player and was the team's longest-tenured defender. Couple that with T.J. Slaton's free-agency departure, and the Packers were already low on depth to begin the 2025 season.

Colby Wooden made the most of the opportunities and became the team's best nose tackle and run stopper while starting in 16 games and playing 52.4% of defensive snaps. It was a transition for Wooden, who added mass and fully committed to defensive tackle after a history as a defensive end.

“The nose, everything starts with the nose,” Wooden said of his new role. “The run game, the pass, everything starts with the nose. So, for me to be the nose, it’s kind of looked at like the general of the defense, hold it down.”

Unfortunately, being Green Bay's best option for the role didn't mean it was an ideal fit, or that the Packers wouldn't look for an upgrade for 2026.

While he was one of the team's better run stoppers, he wasn't fantastic at the role, and Green Bay struggled to stop the run in later downs and quarters. As a pass rusher, Wooden didn't bring any juice. He had zero sacks and only 11 pressures, as well as a below-average 49.8-overall PFF grade.

Wooden added depth and positional versatility. His willingness to attempt a new position spoke volumes about his character. While the Packers already had needs along the interior and would have sought an upgrade regardless, Wooden's departure makes finding bodies more urgent.

Last year's celebrated UDFA from training camp, Nazir Stackhouse, is presumably next in line to start. Stackhouse played in 13 games, primarily as a run defender. He also didn't offer much as a pass rusher, but it was never his skillset.

Growth from Stackhouse would be wonderful, but expecting a UDFA to develop an entirely new skill in his second season isn't realistic.

Even with Colby Wooden, the Packers could use a more complete nose tackle. The Packers haven't generated much quarterback pressure from their interior defenders beyond Wyatt, and they need additional juice. While Wooden was a stopgap, the floor is lowered with him now in Indianapolis.

This isn't a bad year to need a tackle-build defensive lineman. Still, the Packers prefer to avoid drafting to address an immediate need. And it isn't just nose tackles Green Bay needs. Pass rushers and depth are crucial.

Even entering the draft with Stackhouse as the only real nose tackle option is problematic. The Packers won't want to risk their 2027 compensatory picks by signing too greedily, but they'll need to look at the veteran and post-Week 1 free-agency pool to find depth.

Adding before the draft will prevent the Packers from needing to reach, but expect them to draft multiple interior defenders anyway. It's an area where Green Bay needs starters, depth, and competition to raise the floor. We've seen strong interior defenses dominate for Super Bowl winners the past two seasons, and the Packers can let new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon find the ideal players for his scheme.

Ultimately, what was true before this trade is true afterward: The Packers need to invest in the interior defensive line. Wooden's departure makes the need more dire, and it means Green Bay particularly needs a nose tackle. It's a conundrum the Packers will need to sort out in the coming days and weeks.