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Raiders Sign 4,038-Yard All-Conference USA WR to Contract

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Austin C. Boyd | Last updated Apr 28, 2025 12:03 PM ET

On the outside looking in, wide receiver appeared to be one of the biggest needs for the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft. The team seemed to agree, as they drafted two wide receivers and a quarterback they plan to convert to wide receiver.

The team wasn't done there. They've attacked the position in undrafted free agency. One of the most notable players they landed was former Illinois wide receiver Zakhari Franklin.

Franklin was one of the more intriguing wide receivers not to get drafted. He started his college career at UTSA, where he was very productive, having back-to-back seasons of over 1,000 receiving yards in 2021 and 2022.

His success at UTSA led to him transferring to a bigger school, Ole Miss. However, his time at Ole Miss didn't go according to plan. He was only able to get on the field for four games and had just four catches for 38 yards.

Franklin decided to transfer once again, which led him to Illinois. While he wasn't able to reach UTSA heights, he did have 55 catches for 652 yards.

Franklin isn't a great athlete, but he's got good hands and knows how to get yards after the catch. He's an older rookie at 24, but his experience could give him the edge over some younger players.

The Raiders don't have a deep wide receiver room, so Franklin can earn a roster spot if he performs well this offseason. At the very least, he could be a strong practice squad candidate.

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

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