A physical striker who will wear the communication helmet for the Green Bay Packers defense, veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin believes he’s the perfect fit alongside Edgerrin Cooper, his new fast, playmaking linebacker partner.
Franklin, who arrived in Green Bay via trade from Indianapolis this offseason, said he’s been impressed by what Cooper put on tape last season and how big and fast he plays on the field. And he thinks his own playstyle is the ideal fit next to Cooper’s.
“I didn’t realize he was that big,” Franklin said Tuesday. “He’s just fast. When I first got traded, I watched a bunch of the Green Bay games, just to get familiar with my teammates, just watching him play after play, be physical, making plays in coverage. I just feel like our games are truly married perfectly. He’s long, he’s rangy, he’s running. Obviously, I’m striking, but I’m also setting the front and getting everything together. Allowing him to be the best version of himself. We’ve been working, been building, understanding how we both play. That’s been fun too.”
The idea is that Franklin can call the defense, set the front and get everything organized pre-snap while doing all the dirty work post-snap, giving Cooper — a well-built, 6-2 linebacker who ran 4.51 in the 40-yard dash — even more opportunities to use his speed and playmaking instincts to hunt the football in 2026.
Both Franklin and Cooper will be the starters in the base 3-4 defense under Jonathan Gannon, who spent time with Frankin in Indianapolis.
Cooper, a 2024 second-round pick, has 205 total tackles and 17 tackles for loss during his first two seasons. He’s now joining forces with Franklin, a 2024 All-Pro who has four straight seasons with at least 100 tackles.
“On the field, I’m just a dog, I’m not going to lie to you. That’s how I like to play,” Franklin said.
Can Franklin’s playstyle and experience bring out the best in Cooper as the young linebacker enters his third season in a new defense?
Hear more from Franklin below:
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers’ Zaire Franklin sees perfect fit at LB with Edgerrin Cooper