Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin played every defensive snap last season, recording a career-high 179 tackles and securing a lucrative three-year contract extension worth $31.26 million during the offseason.
Despite his individual success, Franklin has yet to witness the Colts clinch a division title in his six seasons with the team. In contrast, the Texans claimed the title three times, including the previous season, while the Titans emerged victorious twice and the Jaguars once. The Colts’ last AFC South victory dates back to 2014.
Franklin doesn’t view the Titans as serious contenders for the upcoming season, instead identifying quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Texans as the primary threat to the Colts’ aspirations. He expressed his disregard for the Titans during an appearance on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast, citing past encounters with Stroud and his confidence in facing him again.
While the Colts and Texans split their matchups last season, with Houston securing a crucial win in the regular-season finale to clinch the division, Franklin took issue with Stroud’s characterization of their games. Despite Stroud’s impressive statistics against the Colts, Franklin reminded him of the early lead the Colts established in their Week 2 encounter and highlighted Stroud’s failure to defeat Anthony Richardson, the Colts’ former quarterback who was sidelined due to injury.
Franklin’s remarks are likely to intensify the rivalry within the AFC South, adding more intrigue to future matchups.
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