Will Franklin Scouting Report

Franklin is an under-the-radar prospect, as he wasn't the main option in an offense that featured two of the nation's top tight ends in Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman and saw the emergence of speedy freshman Jeremy Maclin. Even though he wasn't a primary option, Franklin put up solid numbers throughout his four-year career, with 143 catches, 2,125 yards receiving, and 13 touchdowns. His best season was in 2006, when he caught 48 passes for 829 yards (17.3 yards per catch) and six touchdowns. Given that he wasn't in the limelight at Mizzou, Franklin needed to take advantage of pre-draft opportunities to boost his stock, and he did. At the combine, he ran one of the fastest 40 times, clocking in at 4.37 seconds. At Missouri's Pro Day, Franklin showed tremendous jumping ability with a 40 1/2 inch vertical and a broad jump of 10 feet, 11 inches. With his combination of size, speed, and athleticism, Franklin has real big-play ability and the potential to be a productive receiver in the NFL. With his combine and Pro Day showings, Franklin's stock has moved from likely a fourth-round pick, at best, to where there's a good chance he'll be taken in the third round.