3 NFL-Ready Wide Receivers the Chiefs Can Draft Following Rashee Rice News
2. Troy Franklin, Oregon
Worthy isn't the only NFL-ready wideout worthy of joining the Chiefs at the 2024 draft. Troy Franklin would also be a tremendous asset to the Mahomes-led attack following an extremely productive year at Oregon.
In his final season with the Ducks, Franklin set new personal bests in receptions (81), receiving yards, 1,383, and touchdowns (14) en route to a second-team All-American nomination. To put things into perspective, the East Palo Alto, CA native only generated a 79-1,100-11 stat line in his first two seasons in Eugene, OR.
OH MY GOODNESS... AGAIN! 😳@oregonfootball making it look EASY! pic.twitter.com/12GKvAQS3i
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 12, 2023
While Worthy beats defenders with his speed, Franklin uses his size (6-foot-3) and footwork to make opposing cornerbacks look silly. He could afford to get stronger, but his base suggests that he has all the tools to be a WR1/2 one day, perhaps as early as next season in the right environment. The good news for the incoming rookie is that there isn't a better star-maker than Mahomes.
Franklin's NFL Draft page compares him to the New Orleans Saints' Chris Olave, who has hit the 1,000-yard mark twice to begin his career. If that's the type of player Kansas City would get by drafting Franklin, I doubt you'd hear many complaints from Chiefs Kingdom.