ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Reunited at last.
Thirty-six hours after drafting quarterback Bo Nix with their first-round pick, Sean Payton, George Paton and the Denver Broncos went and got their new signal caller his favorite receiver.
“That’s my guy right there,” new Bronco Troy Franklin told the Denver media on Saturday morning about Nix. “It’s great to be back with my guy that I played in college with.”
The Broncos didn’t waste any time reuniting the two.
One pick after Day 3 started, the Broncos traded their fourth-round pick (121), a fifth-round pick (136) and their sixth-round pick (207) for the second pick in the fourth round (102) and a seventh-round pick (235) to grab the speedy receiver.
During their final season together at Oregon in 2023, Nix and Franklin set records.
Nix set the all-time completion percentage record for a season, while tossing a whopping 45 touchdowns to only three interceptions.
Franklin went on to set single-season records at Oregon for receiving yards (1,383), receiving touchdowns (14) and 100-yard receiving games (8).
“He makes the receivers job easier,” Franklin said about his quarterback, minutes after the Broncos drafted him on Saturday morning.
During the draft process, the dynamic duo had talked about what it would be like to team up in the NFL together. The Broncos made that a reality.
In fact, this was the Broncos plan for hours. After Day 2 wrapped up and Franklin was still on the board, Denver reached out to the receiver to let them know they wanted him.
“I talked to them a little bit. They said they were going to try and get me up there and they made it happen for me,” Franklin revealed.
By drafting Nix and Franklin, it’s the first time ever the Broncos have drafted a quarterback-receiver duo from the same school in the same draft.
This connection became apparent during Nix’s private workout with the Broncos in March. With Payton watching, Franklin caught passes for his quarterback and caught Denver’s eye.
“Bo had the meeting and everything like that. I just kind of went out there and caught for him,” the 6-foot-2, 176-pound receiver said about the private workout in Eugene. “It was more just spot catching. I just wanted to make sure I was looking like I was catching the ball easily… Made sure I had good conversations with them, things like that. I think I gave off a good first impression to them when they were out there.”
Franklin isn’t, however, just a win for Nix. He brings a dynamic playmaking ability that the Broncos’ offense so desperately needs.
During his time at Oregon, Franklin became the all-time leader in receiving touchdowns (25) and tied for the school record in 100-yard receiving games (11).
Outside of Courtland Sutton’s 10 touchdowns in 2023, the Broncos have lacked big-time playmakers. Franklin brings that to the Broncos.
“I think all parts of my game are pretty sharp,” Franklin stated. “My frame, I know I can put a little bit more weight on. That’s going to get fixed.”
Franklin is a big-time win for Bo and the Broncos.
