Mel Kiper Jr. projects Oregon WR Troy Franklin to Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

The Kansas City Chiefs’ issues at the receiver position are well-documented, with Kansas City’s pass-catching corps struggling at times to make plays this season.

Now, when it mattered most in the 27-24 win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round this past Sunday, the Chiefs’ receivers made plays. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the organization won’t seek to upgrade its group in the offseason to compliment Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce.

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. believes the Chiefs will do just that, projecting Kansas City to select Oregon wideout Troy Franklin with their first-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“Did you expect me to go with another position? Kansas City’s receivers really struggled this season, outside of rookie second-rounder Rashee Rice, who might already be their top wideout,” Kiper wrote. “Chiefs pass-catchers dropped 38 passes during the regular season, ranking last in the league. That’s why I’m giving them a talented playmaker with this pick.

Franklin averaged 17.1 yards per catch in 2023 and had 23 receiving touchdowns over the past two seasons. He is a big, 6-foot-3 target with deceptive speed who can break tackles after the catch. This isn’t the first time I’ve projected Kansas City to land a receiver in Round 1 — I gave them Zay Flowers in my final 2023 mock — but the hole is too large to not fill here. By the way, this makes seven wideouts in Round 1, which would tie the record for most in a single draft (2004).”

Troy Franklin would change dynamic of Chiefs’ offense

After a solid sophomore season in Eugene, Franklin exploded onto the scene in 2023, becoming one of nation’s best playmakers. In 13 games, he hauled in 81 receptions for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns. Across three years at Oregon, he came down with 160 catches for 2,483 yards and 25 scores.

Franklin would likely slot just behind Rice on the depth chart. Rice led the 2023 group with 938 yards and seven scores — far and away exceeding the production of those alongside him. Neither Justin Watson, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney or Skyy Moore proved to be reliable targets for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, leading to Kansas City’s offense taking a step back this season.

“Troy Franklin makes perfect sense for the Chiefs for one very specific reason,” Field Yates added on ESPN Tuesday. “They need a change in dimension of their passing game. One thing they’ve really been lacking in this season up until the last three competitive games was explosive plays. Look at where they ranked last season in plays of at least 20 yards in 2022: 82 — that’s first in the entire NFL. This year? Down to 62, tied for 14th. Like Mel mentioned, there’s one thing that Troy Franklin does as well as any player in this Draft [and] it’s run. This guy is going to blaze the 40 [yard dash] during the Combine. He would change the way that this passing game will operate at all three levels.”