Oregon receiver Troy Franklin lands inside Mel Kiper Jr.'s updated 2024 first-round mock draft
After producing the greatest individual season ever by an Oregon receiver, former Duck standout Troy Franklin continues to generate first-round buzz ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released an updated first-round mock and Franklin was the lone Oregon player who made the cut.
Kiper projects that the Kansas City Chiefs will select Franklin with the 29th overall pick to help bolster a receiver room that has struggled mightily this season.
Here’s the rundown from Kiper on Franklin.
“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. 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).“
As Kiper noted, this year’s draft class is stocked with receiver talent.
He lists six receivers ahead of Franklin: Marvin Harrison Jr. (Arizona Cardinals, No. 4 overall), Malik Nabers (New York Giants, No. 6 overall), Rome Odunze (Chicago Bears, No. 9 overall), Brian Thomas Jr. (New Orleans Saints, No. 14 overall), Keon Coleman (Indianapolis Colts, No. 15 overall), and Adonai Mitchell (Buffalo Bills, No. 28 overall).
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During his junior season, Franklin hauled in 81 receptions and set UO single-season records for receiving yards (1,383) and touchdowns (14).
Throughout the offseason, former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, center Jackson Powers-Johnson, defensive end Brandon Dorlus, and running back Bucky Irving, have also received plenty of draft buzz.
Franklin (No. 46), Nix (No. 47), Powers-Johnson (No. 65), Powers-Johnson (No. 80), and Irving (No. 94) are listed among ESPN’s top-100 prospects.
