After being picked by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the NFL draft in April, wide receiver Troy Franklin underwhelmed in preseason.
Franklin had one target (and no catches) in the team’s preseason opener and no targets in the second preseason game. It wasn’t until Denver’s preseason finale that Franklin finally hauled in a 21-yard reception. He also had one carry for nine yards in the Broncos’ final preseason game.
Despite the receiver’s quiet summer, Denver coach Sean Payton is still excited about Franklin’s outlook.
“Here’s what I see — I see great speed,” Payton said last week. “Probably as good run after the catch. Even in his college days. This past week, we saw him again. He’s playing ‘Z’ [receiver]. I like where he’s at relative to his progress. I like the selection, especially where we were able to draft him. He has rare speed, and then he’s very comfortable catching an in-route and then all of the sudden taking it for a big gain.
“Is there a development to any of these rookies? Absolutely. [He is] working on his lower-body strength and getting stronger there. He’s smart. He picks things up. There are good questions he asks — we were discussing a few things today. I’m excited about him.”
Franklin’s development will continue into the regular season, as Payton noted. The coach did not specifically say so, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Franklin is inactive early in the season while he continues progressing. The Broncos are excited about Franklin’s long-term outlook, but the receiver might not make an instant impact in Denver. When he does get on the field, Franklin’s speed will be an exciting addition to the offense.
