Oregon's Troy Franklin tabbed by PFF as one of nation's top draft-eligible receivers
In 2022, Troy Franklin established himself as Oregon’s clear-cut No. 1 receiver while producing one of the best seasons in recent program history.
As we inch toward the start of the 2023 campaign, Franklin is generating significant 2024 NFL Draft buzz.
Earlier this week, Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus released his NFL Draft watch list, which features 10 players to watch at each offensive position.
Chadwick listed Franklin at No. 7 among his group of receivers. Here’s his analysis of the Ducks’ star sophomore.
“At 6-foot-3, Franklin has a massive catch radius with strong hands, dropping only 3.1% of his catchable targets in 2022. His 139.2 passer rating when targeted was 10th among Power Five receivers. He’s a strong receiver after the catch but can stand to add more strength to handle press coverage on the outside, as he weighs only 178 pounds.“
Last fall, Franklin caught a team-high 61 passes for 891 yards and nine touchdowns and produced the most productive season by an Oregon receiver since Dillon Mitchell in 2018.
This spring, Oregon receivers coach Junior Adams praised the work Franklin did during the offseason to improve the intricate details of his game.
“Once the season was over and he got back from break, he was like ‘Coach, what do I need to get better at?’” Adams said. “Then we dove into his film and his tape and we talked about some areas where he can improve at. What Troy has done between January and now — he’s working on those things.”
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Ducks’ head coach Dan Lanning is expecting Franklin to become an even more savvy, intuitive player during his junior season.
“Operate within the framework of the offense,” Ducks’ coach Dan Lanning said when asked what Franklin will need to do to become a 1000-yard receiver. “At times, that’s going to lend itself where you get opportunities to make sure you’re able to get on the ball. There are going to be times when he’s probably going to be doubled. We’re gonna take the ball somewhere else.
“But it’s about understanding what he does — then we have to do a good job as coaches moving him around and creating advantageous matchups.”
A handful of outlets have projected Franklin as an early first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Along with Franklin, the Ducks return starting slot receiver Kris Hutson from last year’s squad. They also added Alabama transfer Traeshon Holden and Troy transfer Tez Johnson during the offseason.
