The Denver Broncos had arguably the steal of the draft selecting Oregon WR Troy Franklin in the fourth-round. Franklin is coming off of a historic season in Eugene, setting three single-season records in receiving yards, touchdowns, and 100-yard receiving games (8). Denver took Oregon QB Bo Nix 12th overall in the first round, and reunited the Oregon duo by trading up for Troy Franklin early in the fourth-round. Sean Payton said he’s been impressed with both players so far in Rookie Minicamp and the start of OTA’s. Could we see Franklin quickly rise up the depth chart in Denver?
Why Troy Franklin Fell In The Draft
One of the biggest reasons why Franklin fell so far in the draft was because of his frame. He is 6’2″ and 183 LBs. As we know from the stats, it didn’t affect him at the collegiate level but many were concerned about how he would fare in the NFL. The good news is that Franklin is expected to put on more weight this offseason to bolster his frame.
Other than his frame, there really were not any other huge problems that stood out with Franklin. Small concerns would be his route running along with his catching ability. He had a total of 9 drops in 2023, and a 10% drop rate. His route running doesn’t bring down nor does it elevate his game. This made a huge difference when comparing him to the rest of the WR prospects in this draft.
Where Franklin Fits in Denver
Coming to Denver was one of the best possible scenarios for Franklin coming into the NFL Draft. He won’t be rushed and expected to contribute in big ways immediately. Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr will headline the receiving core, followed by Tim Patrick and Josh Reynolds.
Allowing Troy Franklin to ease into the offense is huge for both him along with the team. Denver has great depth the WR position and will have at least 4 players who can contribute from the start. Those players are Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr, Tim Patrick, and Josh Reynolds. If he [Franklin] has a strong training camp, we could see Franklin’s playing time increase.
How He Could Become the WR3
The key to Franklin becoming the WR3 is for him to have a good training camp, and be consistent. He has to outplay Tim Patrick and Josh Reynolds to earn his spot. It is definitely possible, and he has an advantage with Bo Nix likely being Denver’s starting QB. The two have great chemistry coming into camp, which only helps Franklin’s case.
The talent is there, it’s just a matter of how he adjusts to the new offense. It’s his to take. If Franklin plays well and has a good preseason, Sean Payton will notice. You saw it last season with Marvin Mims Jr, and how his outstanding play on special teams earned him the WR2 position this year.
It’s all about coming into camp in great shape (which he’s already achieved), and performing so well that Sean Payton would have no choice but to start him early on in the season. There is no room for error during training camp along with preseason.
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