Two plays were all Troy Franklin had. But for the Broncos rookie wide receiver, that was all he needed.
In the first quarter of Sunday’s preseason finale against the Cardinals, Denver was positioned at Arizona’s 16-yard line when Franklin received a handoff on a jet sweep, resulting in a 9-yard gain that helped set up a touchdown run from fellow rookie Audric Estime.
With 3:32 left in the second, Franklin once again heard his name called. The speedster ran across the middle where he snatched a 21-yard pass out of the air from quarterback Zach Wilson.
In a preseason defined by ups and downs, those two plays from the Broncos’ 38-12 win over Arizona were steps in the right direction for the Oregon product.
“It felt pretty cool to get my first touches in the preseason,” Franklin told The Denver Post. “I just wanted to show what I can do to help my team in any way I can.”
Franklin’s arrival in April came with promise. One of the top wide receivers in college football last season, he was viewed as a Day 2 pick before falling to the fourth round. Denver traded up to nab him at 102nd overall, reuniting him with college teammate and rookie quarterback Bo Nix.
Franklin was considered a potential draft-day steal. However, his performance during training camp has yet to match the hype. He’s had moments where his speed has been readily apparent. Yet there have also been drops and instances where he’s looked like a player still learning the playbook.
In the Broncos’ first two preseason games, he didn’t have a single reception over 42 offensive snaps. Despite an inconsistent summer, Franklin insisted it’s been a positive experience overall and he learned a lot along the way.
“(Training camp) has been good for me,” Franklin said. “I’ve seen and learned a lot (about) the speed of the game. For my position, it’s making sure my details are correct (and) doing things how the coaches want them done.”
Franklin’s lack of production raises questions about his role this fall.
Courtland Sutton is solidly the top receiver in the room. Veteran Josh Reynolds and rookie Devaughn Vele are big targets who have also shown the ability to make contested catches. Tim Patrick turned in a solid preseason despite coming off back-to-back season-ending injuries. And second-year wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is expected to take on a bigger role.
So where does that leave Franklin?
“We knew at the start of training camp that the position group was deep,” Payton said. “There are some tough decisions there.”
In July, Payton spoke of the value Franklin could provide Denver’s offense. He viewed Franklin as a player with tremendous speed who could be a big-play threat, whether lined up on the outside or in the slot.
The coach also insisted it may take time for Franklin to adjust to the pro level. A receiver’s transition into the NFL often means learning a bigger route-running tree and not staying on one side of the field.
“It is a position that I’ve seen make immediate impacts, and it’s a position that I’ve seen first-rounders (like former Saints wide receiver) Robert Meachem. It took him a year or two, but then when he got it, we were glad we had him,” Payton said.
As Franklin continues to learn Payton’s offense, he wants to improve as a route runner and run-blocker.
“I think for me, I’m new to the NFL (and) our offense isn’t as traditional as others,” he said.
Franklin said he talked to Payton a week ago. And in that conversation, the former Saints coach reassured the young receiver that he was doing well. Payton, wide receiver coach Keary Colbert and passing game coordinator John Morton expect a lot from Franklin and want to see him flourish.
“He’s an explosive playmaker,” Colbert said. “I just think, with the more reps he’s getting, you can just see the confidence growing.”
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