The New England Patriots have been busy with their top 30 visits. They recently brought in Oregon receiver Troy Franklin. Franklin had a great 2023 season at Oregon but struggled tremendously at the Scouting Combine. If the Patriots believe that Franklin just had a bad day, they may be willing to bet on his upside as a playmaker. After all, Franklin’s film from 2023 doesn’t lie, he’s a serious downfield threat who can make a huge play at any moment. There are some questions about his game, though, and he could struggle at the next level without proper coaching and development.
Bringing Franklin to Gillette Stadium for a visit will give the New England staff the ability to get the star receiver into their environment. It will allow them to see if he is a fit for their scheme and culture, and will also allow them to ask him questions about his struggles at the Combine. If Franklin impresses Jerod Mayo and his staff, fans could see the Patriots make him a priority on draft weekend.
Franklin has some great separation ability, showing off incredible agility and instincts with each play he’s involved in. Some concerns are focused on his size. He has plenty of height, standing at six-feet-two inches, but only weighs in at 176 pounds. He has a slender frame and some people worry about his durability at the NFL level. Franklin could put these concerns to rest by proving his toughness in training camp and preseason, but will a team be willing to risk a valuable draft pick on him? Fans will have to wait and see.
With Franklin’s struggles at the NFL Combine, Patriots fans could see Franklin fall down draft boards. This may be very beneficial for New England. If they can get Franklin in the fourth round, he could prove to be a huge steal. The former Oregon Duck could also bring some great energy to the locker room. He shows his passion and competitiveness on the field, which is exactly what a rebuilding Patriots team needs at the moment. Franklin could be especially valuable if the Patriots find a true number-one receiver through the trade market or at the top of the Draft. He could shine as a complementary piece to a star receiver that dictates coverage and opens up the field for him.
How significant is the Patriots meeting with Franklin?
The Patriots bringing Franklin into their environment should hold a lot of weight. They have a real need for weapons, and they wouldn’t waste one of their top thirty visits on a prospect they didn’t believe in. The meeting could just be to confirm their thoughts on the Ducks receiver, or it could be to help them determine where they are willing to select him in the draft. Either way, there is a lot to keep an eye on when it comes to the Patriots’ pre-draft moves, and they could be showing they wish to add Franklin to a depleted receiver group.
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