The Indianapolis Colts reportedly met with wide receiver Troy Franklin ahead of Oregon’s pro day this week.
Franklin is considered a fringe first-round pick and profiles as a potentially successful deep threat at the NFL level. The Colts reportedly were among a few teams to meet with him ahead of the pro day, per Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.
Franklin broke out during the 2023 season as one of Oregon’s most productive players overall. In 13 games, he recorded 81 receptions for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 17.1 yards per catch.
Though he weighed in a bit light at the NFL combine (176 pounds), he weighed in at 183 pounds at Oregon’s pro day. He also logged a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash and a 39-inch vertical.
The Colts are going to be in the market for a wide receiver during the draft, and Franklin’s trump card as a deep threat is likely going to intrigue the front office in some capacity.
It seems unlikely that they would use the No. 15 overall pick on Franklin, but there is a chance he could be in the mix in the event Chris Ballard trades back during the first night of the draft.
Adding a vertical threat to Shane Steichen’s offense is one of the priorities of the offseason so this should be something to keep an eye on over the next month leading up to the draft.
