Buffalo Bills To Host Visit With Draft Target Troy Franklin

As the Buffalo Bills' search for their next star receiver continues, they'll host high-profile Oregon Ducks receiver Troy Franklin for a visit.

Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA

The Buffalo Bills, in all likelihood, will be taking a receiver in the NFL Draft. Losing star receiver Stefon Diggs and veteran counterpart Gabe Davis is simply too big of shoes to fill for free agents without long track records of success.

The only questions are who and when.

Many mock drafts, for good reason, have Buffalo getting the receiver issue out of the way early, drafting one with the No. 28 pick in the first round. Among their options are LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr., Texas’ Adonai Mitchell, South Carolina’s Xavier Legette, and Oregon’s Troy Franklin – though the nature of the class and the Bills’ spot offer little in the form of certainty.

Nov 18, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks wide receiver Troy Franklin (11) makes a touchdown / Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY

Buffalo may have taken a step closer to its decision this week when it hosts Franklin for a visit. According to Ryan Talbot and the receiver’s YouTube channel, he is in Western New York for Wednesday and Thursday.

The team has also held a private workout with the receiver, and quarterback Josh Allen had listed him among his favorite receivers in the quickly-approaching NFL Draft.

While many anticipate a Diggs-like target share for a first-round receiver, Franklin profiles more like a Davis replacement. He’s a strong field stretcher who dictates how defenses defend thanks to 4.41-second 40-yard dash speed that demands to be respected.

However, he may be at his best with the ball in his hands. Franklin finds success as an underneath route runner, giving him access to easy completions and – with his athleticism – big plays. Conversely, this aspect of his game resembles Diggs more than Davis. Like Davis, though, his route tree can be limited and he isn’t as polished downfield as one would like, despite the downfield targets he’ll command.

Franklin offers upside above the rim, standing an eighth of an inch short of 6-foot-2, but consistency at the catch point has proven to be elusive. This is in part due to his lackluster build; at 176 pounds he is in the bottom-20th percentile for the position. It is encouraging to see him win at the line of scrimmage, though, as the Oregon product offers both diverse and effective releases.

Frankly, this kind of profile is common in the late picks of Round 1. The ceiling is there for Franklin to hog targets and turn slants into scores while also posing a threat downfield. It can be tantalizing, especially with a gifted quarterback like Allen under center. But, much like the receiving prospects surrounding him, his skill set is incomplete and a work-in-progress.

The only way to secure a high-floor, high-ceiling receiver in this class is by trading into the top 10. Don’t let that diminish optimism for a prospective pick at No. 28. Any injection of talent into that receiving corps should be welcomed, and Franklin will make plays at the next level.

Buffalo will be sure to gauge just how consistent those chunk gains look to be during his visit.