Broncos trade up in 4th round for Bo Nix teammate

The Denver Broncos made a trade with the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday morning to take a wide receiver from Oregon in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Denver selected Troy Franklin with the 102nd overall pick.

"I just wanted to get my name called. It's a blessed feeling," Franklin stated in a press conference call after his selection. "The Broncos gave me a chance to go out there and showcase my talent and do whatever I need to do to help the team."

Franklin just finished his junior year with the Fighting Ducks. He started two years as a wideout and received All-Pac 12 and All-America honors last season. He averaged more than 100 yards receiving per game that year and caught 14 touchdown passes. 

Franklin measured 6-foot-1 and 176 pounds and ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in early March. 

The Broncos chose Bo Nix, Franklin's quarterback during last season, with the team's first-round draft pick.

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It is very great to be back with my guy who I played with in college," Franklin said.   

Franklin caught passes from Nix during a workout for Broncos coaches last month. 

"We have a lot of player-led stuff that goes on at Oregon," Franklin said. "We had a lot of time where me and Bo Nix and receivers, tight ends and just the whole offensive unit would just make sure we're walking through stuff. We're passing the ball, just running routes on there. Making sure our connection was right. Just trying to hone in, making sure that we're on the same page and getting things done."  

Franklin said he and Nix spoke previously discussed being drafted by the same team, but have not spoken at length with one another during the draft. 

Being in the same huddle will change that.

To get in position to draft Franklin, the Broncos traded to Seattle their original fourth-round pick (121st), the first of their three fifth-round picks (126th), and their sixth-round pick (207th). They received a seventh-round pick (235th) from the Seahawks.   

Franklin was projected as a second-round draft pick by several draft prognosticators.

Following the Saturday trade, the Broncos made four other picks to round out their 2024 Draft - Missouri cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (145th in fifth round), Notre Dame running back Audric Estimé (147th in fifth round), Utah wide receiver Devaughn Vele (235th in the seventh round), and South Carolina center Nick Carguilo (256th in the seventh).

Sandwiched between the Oregon teammates, Denver drafted Utah linebacker Jonah Elliss in the third round Friday.