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Broncos' WR Troy Franklin Named Breakout Candidate

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nelson Hubbell | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 3:35 PM ET

The Denver Broncos are looking for someone other than Courtland Sutton to emerge at receiver , and it could be one of Bo Nix's favorite targets in college.

Last season, Troy Franklin played in 16 games for the Broncos, catching 28 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns. The former 2024 fourth-round pick out of Oregon stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 180 pounds.

He makes up for it with a 4.41 40-yard dash, which is a big reason why The Athletic's Nick Kosmider sees him as a potential breakout candidate in year two.

"Evan Engram is going to open up a lot of possibilities for Denver’s offense," Kosmider wrote. "I think this will give Bo Nix more windows to get Franklin the ball in space, and there may not be anyone on Denver’s roster who can go from 0 to 60 quicker."

Franklin saw limited playing time last season, but his rapport with Nix is still there. His 9.3 yards per catch is not indicative of his capabilities. Kosmider says that Sean Payton's offense can be difficult to grasp for rookies, and he thinks Franklin is ready to emerge after working out the lumps.

"It was clear Franklin was thinking too much at times last season," Kosmider said. "If he’s more comfortable this year, and his spring provided promising glimpses that he is, his speed will be more impactful for the Broncos than it was able to be last year."

That is promising news for a team that could use an over-the-top threat to their passing attack. The Nix and Franklin duo is something to keep your eye on going forward.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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