It’s there for the taking for second year Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin. In the most literal sense, he just needs to go out and grab it.
After a frustrating rookie season that ended with Franklin scoring a touchdown in a playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills, the 2024 fourth round pick (No. 102 overall) might be able to tap into what could be Pro Bowl potential with more touches in 2025.
Franklin wasn’t totally a non-factor in 2024 — he had 30 touches for 273 yards from scrimmage and 2 touchdowns — but struggled to assert himself in a crowded pack of wide receivers behind star Courtland Sutton.
Now, Franklin enters 2025 in a battle with fellow wide receivers DeVaughn Vele, Marvin Mims and possibly rookie Pat Bryant to firm up roles behind Sutton in head coach Sean Payton’s offense.
That group will also have to deal with a revamped role for the tight end position with 2-time Pro Bowler Evan Engram in the fold and, possibly, a breakout star in rookie running back and 2025 second round pick (No. 60 overall) RJ Harvey.
“Mims, Vele and Troy Franklin, who scored Denver’s lone touchdown in the wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills, could rightly envision themselves having ‘ascensions,’ as Payton put it, in the Broncos’ offense this season,” The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider wrote on June 3. “But the math suggests the Broncos can’t ramp up production for all three targets while building more of the passing game around Engram, incorporating Bryant and continuing to feed Sutton at a high level. So how will the distribution shake out?”
Franklin’s 43-yard touchdown reception from Bo Nix also made a bit of NFL history as the first rookie to rookie touchdown in NFL playoff history.
