Troy Franklin 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin is the topic today. I’m so done with these intro paragraphs for these 2024 NFL Draft profiles so I’m just going to get to the meat and potatoes for this one.
Speed. That’s all you really need to know with Franklin. Speed is the name of the game and it’s what he does best. He is the Jalin Hyatt of this draft class. He’s going to stretch the field and win deep routes. Every team needs speed at the wide receiver position. The only difference is I think Franklin is a better player. More polished in his route running. Is more than just a one year wonder too.
Franklin blew up in 2023 but still had solid numbers as a sophomore the year prior. Scored nine touchdowns and averaged 14.6 yards per reception in 2022. However, his 2023 included 81 receptions for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns. Was the clear WR1 for Oregon and that’s not a small feat. Tez Johnson (who we will talk about next year) is pretty good in his own right. Still, Franklin was the dude there. Made First-Team Pac 12 last year and second team the year before.
Former four star recruit coming out but was listed as the third best receiver in the country for his class in high school. Has good height to him but a bit on the skinnier side checking in at 6-foot-2, 176. Clocked in at a 4.41 at the Combine to go along with a 39 inch vertical. It’s easy speed. Get the ball in his hands and he can be a YAC threat.
The downside to Franklin is that he’s not a WR1 or won’t be at the NFL level. Very good complimentary piece for the offense. Limited route tree. Just certain things he can and can’t do. All good on the bubble screens for extra yardage. Wins over the top. Doesn’t have the same play speed in certain elements, which we covered at the Combine. The lack of strength will hold him back in particular instances. Sometimes he rolls his route instead of executing things cleanly.
Really good in the return game. Going to be an ace on those deep crossing routes. Bit tall and lanky sometimes. Needs a bit better bend in the knees. Not going to help you as a blocker.
Ideally, I would pick Franklin in the third round to have him be a high end functional piece of a passing attack. Wide receivers are like basketball teams. You have to diversify the room. Any team that needs speed will love to have this guy. You feel good about his collegiate production and isn’t overly small. Just needs to get a little stronger and refine the route running. If that happens, you will get a really good pro that should be productive.
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