NFL Draft 2018: Indianapolis Colts select Syracuse’s Zaire Franklin in seventh round

The 2018 NFL Draft did not go without a Syracuse Orange player. With the 235th pick, the Indianapolis Colts selected former SU linebacker Zaire Franklin.

As you’re well aware, Franklin was a three-year defensive captain at Syracuse, and as a senior had 85 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. In his junior season, he topped 100 stops on the year. Over the course of his Orange career, he played in all 48 games and started 39.

While Franklin wasn’t invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, he put up numbers at his pro day that would’ve been among the best of the linebackers actually invited.

Franklin was one of three linebackers selected by the Colts in this year’s draft, which is bound to make things at least a little more difficult for him in terms of making the roster. Indianapolis picked South Carolina State’s Darius Leonoard in the second round and Houston’s Matthew Adams in the seventh (14 picks before Franklin). The Colts now have 12 linebackers on the roster as well, John Simon, Antonio Morrison and Anthony Walker currently projected as the starters.

Congratulations to Zaire on being picked, and good luck making the team! We’ll be updating the site with news of undrafted free agent signings for Syracuse players as they occur.