Vitals

High-end NFL Player Comp(s): Robbie Chosen (in his prime)

Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): Josh Reynolds

Best Scheme Fit: Occasional Z (flanker) who is likely best suited to operate as a primary slot option to take advantage of his speed and minimize the number of times he faces physicality off the line of scrimmage.

Best Team Fit(s): Chargers, Bills, Panthers, Broncos, Colts, Steelers

Non-bolded times - Good examples of attribute
Bolded times - Average/poor examples of attribute

* - How well does his skill set carry over to the fantasy game? For receivers, a player needs to be a realistic threat for 70 catches and 1,000 receiving yards at some point early in their career to be a candidate for a perfect grade. Positional scarcity at the pro level is also a part of the equation.

Positives

• Long-striding deep threat who is unafraid to navigate the middle of the field despite his slight frame.
  
  
• Better after the catch than most receivers his size due to his explosiveness (538 yards after the catch ranked 18th among receivers in 2023 and more than doubled his previous career high).
  
  
• Displays an innate ability to create space, which should make him a solid contributor on intermediate routes against zone coverages at the next level.
  
  
• Quick feet and release package allow him to avoid the jam more often than not.
  
  
• Understands the value of changing up the pace on his routes and stacking his defender once he blows past him on vertical routes.
  
  
• Has a starter kit to be an above-average receiver in contested-catch situations (good height, great body control, 32-inch arms and 39-inch vertical).
  

Negatives

• Although he can be a savvy route-runner at times, he wins more routes with speed (or the threat of it) than technique at this point.
  
  
• Lacks the necessary bulk and play strength to take advantage of his explosiveness (39-inch vertical) in contested-catch situations (7-for-19 in such situations in 2023 and 14-of-37 for his career, per Pro Football Focus).
  
  
• Nine drops and a 10 percent drop rate in 2023 are among the highest marks at receiver in this draft class; focus drops and hand positioning were the cause of several of them, however.
  
  
• Limited route tree in college (mostly curls, slants, screens and verticals) will likely delay his chances of regularly contributing as a perimeter receiver until late in his rookie year.
  
  
• Repeatedly proves blocking is important to him but lacks the necessary bulk and play strength to hold up against more physical defenders; also can be a little undisciplined in his attempts to block.
  
  
• Likely does not possess the frame to carry much more muscle without sacrificing his speed.
  

Bottom Line

Receivers who do most of their damage as a result of the vertical passing game (Franklin ranked eighth in FBS with 558 receiving yards on throws of 20-plus yards in 2023) are boom-bust by the very nature of the routes they usually run. Deep throws may consistently deliver the biggest reward for an offense, but they also have the lowest probability of being completed. Unfortunately, this may be what Franklin becomes in the NFL - a boom/bust receiver who is heavily dependent on the big play. Although the All-Pac-12 selection is not just a vertical receiver, it would be difficult to say he is going to make a huge impact at the next level because of his ability in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Evaluators like prospects to have at least one trait that separates them from the pack and it is unclear if Franklin has one. His speed is certainly good enough to draw the attention of the defense, but 176-pound receivers who struggle to outmuscle defenders in contested-catch situations and cannot run routes like DeVonta Smith have long had difficulty sticking around in the league as anything more than field-stretchers.

At the very least, Franklin should enjoy a long NFL career as a deep threat. Beyond that, several factors will likely need to fall in place for him later this month if he wants to be a regular contributor. Although he showed the willingness to make tough catches over the middle and pick up yards after the catch in college, Franklin seems unlikely to hold up for very long if he is routinely asked to do the former. As for the latter, he may never be strong enough to shed tackles regularly. As such, Oregon's all-time leader in receiving touchdowns may need to be paired with a big-armed quarterback who understands "no risk it, no biscuit" and is fine living with a vertical receiver who probably will not give him much help on 50-50 balls. Franklin could conceivably evolve into a great route-runner someday, but his limited route tree at Oregon and the fact he is high-cut could make it hard for him to hit the ground running in the pros. He could be maximized early on as a vertical slot, which would enable him to mostly avoid physical coverage and allow him to put his best tool to use consistently.

Will Fuller and Anderson are two rare examples of receivers with similar characteristics who were able to enjoy limited high-end success despite their lack of physicality, while Reynolds may be a more realistic version of what Franklin's new team should expect - too much talent to be a third receiver and not diversified enough to be a quality sidekick. Landing spot will almost certainly determine which fate awaits the former four-star recruit, but it is hard to imagine he will be anything more than a strong complementary receiver who booms about as often as he busts.


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