Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - With the 2023 season in the books for the Buffalo Bills, it's time to continue looking ahead to the 2024 NFL Draft, where the team has a chance to add some quality pieces to the roster for the coming years ahead.
Buffalo could look to try and add another key piece to the offense this April with their first-round selection, which is the 28th overall pick. It's time to take another deep dive into one of those potential options for the Bills, as we head out to the West coast and and valuate wide receiver Troy Franklin from the University of Oregon.
Franklin comes in at just over 6-foot-3 and a hair under 200 pounds (official measurements will be at the combine), which continues the trend with much of the first-round talent this year being the prototypical size for an NFL wide receiver.
Franklin’s best trait, and one the Bills desperately need, is his game-breaking speed. Now, this is not a Henry Ruggs situation where he will get drafted almost solely because of it, but it definitely makes him a dynamic factor.
A 4.3ish 40-yard dash is likely from Franklin at the NFL Combine, and in a Bills offense lacking true high-end speed, getting him at the end of Round 1 would be considered by many as a "steal".
That is the big difference between Franklin and a fellow wide receiver prospect like Brian Thomas Jr.
For Thomas Jr., you’ll likely have to trade up in Round 1 to acquire his services. However, Franklin (who I have as my fifth-rated wide receiver), due to depth at other positions, can be an option for the Bills with the 28th overall pick.
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Franklin is much more of a raw prospect that may not immediately translate into having success at the NFL level. To that point, I don’t mean to say he will be a non-factor for a year, but instead it could be more gradual.
However, his game-breaking speed will force the Bills to find ways to get him the ball as he gets used to NFL football.
Franklin is skinnier than some of the top-end wide receivers, and, in turn, needs work as a blocker. He is also not the greatest 50/50 wide receiver in the draft, but much like Thomas Jr., that is not who you’re drafting. Both get open and take the ball up the field, rather than needing to throw the ball up and hope for the best.
These are the type of wide receivers Bills quarterback Josh Allen flourishes with.
Since the departure of John Brown, Allen hasn’t had someone who could take the top off a defense on literally every play of the game. This has been a piece of the Bills offense that has slowly gone away until it came to a head this past season, where the Bills seemingly could not complete a pass over 25 yards.
Some of this was on the quarterback, but it was also on the inconsistent play of Gabe Davis, and the fact that two wide receivers added last offseason in Trent Sherfield and Deonte Harty could not consistently contribute at all.
Franklin was also not a one-year wonder with the Oregon Ducks.
During his sophomore season, Franklin had a respectable year, catching 61 passes for 891 yards and nine touchdowns. This past season, Franklin absolutely exploded with 81 catches for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Franklin may not be the immediate product "Bills Mafia" want, but he very quickly could become that type of game-breaking factor the Bills have not had in years.
The 21-year-old has all the potential to eventually take the mantle from Stefon Diggs as WR1 in Buffalo, whenever that day eventually comes calling.
