Troy Franklin will boost the Denver Broncos receiver room in a big way if he keeps playing like he has this preseason.

Franklin just enjoyed a two-touchdown performance in the Broncos 27-7 victory over the Cardinals in Week 2 of preseason. He also practiced at a high level throughout training camp, which has come to an end.

Can the second-year receiver continue his improved play during Denver’s regular season?

Troy Franklin will boost Denver Broncos receiver room in 2025

Franklin could be the missing ingredient that takes the Broncos offense from mediocre to great in 2025.

Last year, the Broncos didn’t have a No. 2 wide receiver for most of the campaign. They didn’t have a pass-catching tight end. And they didn’t have a running game worth a damn.

Late in the season, Marvin Mims enjoyed his breakout and became the default No. 2 wideout to the team’s legitimate No. 1 in Courtland Sutton.

As we are less than three weeks away from Denver’s season kicking off (Sept. 8, vs. Tennessee), Mims is that No. 2 guy.

But Franklin is hot on his heels.

When the Broncos took him in the fourth round last year, there was hope he would catch on quickly because he and Bo Nix were teammates at Oregon.

Instead, Franklin floundered. Many receivers struggle as rookies, but he was also thoroughly out-played by 7th-round pick Devaughn Vele.

Franklin started six games, most of them coming in the first half of the season. He had only one game with more than two receptions, the blowout of the Saints, and faded into the background down the stretch.

But everything seems to be pointing to him breaking out in his sophomore season, which would be a huge boost to a receiver room that is lacking in playmaking ability.

Will Franklin become the No. 2 WR in Denver?

When they drafted him last April, Franklin was supposed to become the No. 2 wideout for the team immediately. Instead, he struggled and fell down the depth chart to fifth even behind Lil’Jordan Humphrey in most stats.

If Franklin finally takes that leap, and even leap-frogs over Mims, the entire Broncos offense will reap the rewards. His height positions him well outside, and his speed makes him a vertical threat the likes Sutton just isn’t. And when they’re both on the field, Franklin and Mims are two vertical threats which can challenge any defense.

After his 2-touchdown day this weekend, head coach Sean Payton was asked about Franklin’s progress.

“Yes, it’s happening, and I’m excited,” Payton said. “I think we just got to be smart because he’s playing two spots, but he’s having a really good…He’s had a really good camp. He’s confident. I’ve said this a bunch of times, it has to happen on the field, and you guys that have covered this team or any other team, you see it in the preseason every year. Some players begin to make some plays, and it carries over.”

As the old ball coach explained there, Franklin’s done great in practices and now in the preseason–3 catches for 18 yards vs. the 49ers, too–but it has to carry over into the regular season. When the games matter and the matchups are tougher.

There’s hope from the sophomore he will be able to carry that success over.

“I think I’m just more comfortable, got a little bit more freedom to go out there and just play,” Franklin said after the second preseason game. “And also just knowing the offense as a whole.”

If he continues to shine, Franklin could become that No. 2 or Z receiver to Sutton’s X. Lining up outside makes sense for the 6’3” speedster, but there’s evidence it will help Mims out to be in the slot, too.

Last year, Mims was the best YAC+ receiver in the NFL. But when looking through the numbers, Mims had a -29.3% DVOA outside versus a -6.1% DVOA in the slot. (His 22.1% DVOA from the backfield was shockingly good, and Payton will likely line him up there some this year, too.)

Outside of Mims, Vele and new rookie Pat Bryant are the others pushing for that No. 2 spot. But as of now, it looks like Franklin’s job to lose.

If Franklin does step up, it’ll be huge for Denver. He, along with Mims and the addition of Evan Engram at tight end, will be twice the playmakers for Nix.