The Broncos entered the 2024 NFL Draft with big needs at the quarterback and wide receiver positions, and they tapped into one of college football's most productive tandems to fill those voids.
It began when Denver selected Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the 12th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Nix was the sixth quarterback chosen and has drawn comparisons to Drew Brees, making him a strong fit for Sean Payton's offense.
The Broncos weren't done picking players from Dan Lanning's program though. They traded up early on Day 3 of the draft to choose wide receiver Troy Franklin, a prospect many viewed as a potential second-round pick who slipped due to concerns about his route-running abilities and wiry frame.
Franklin is a speedy receiver with good height and a great rapport with Nix. The duo should have instant chemistry at the next level, and that could provide a Broncos offense that was disjointed in 2023 with a positive jolt.
Just how good were Nix and Franklin together? Here's what to know about their stats from their two years at Oregon.
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Bo Nix and Troy Franklin stats
Nix and Franklin played together for two seasons after Nix transferred to Oregon from Auburn. The pairing was one of the most productive QB-WR tandems in college football during that time.
Franklin enjoyed a breakout season in Nix's first season with the Ducks, recording 61 catches for 891 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore. He followed that up with an 81-catch season where he recorded 1,381 yards and 14 touchdowns as Nix's No. 1 receiver.
Below is a full breakdown of Franklin's stats with Nix:
| Year | Catches | Yards | TDs | Yards per reception |
| 2022 | 61 | 891 | 9 | 14.6 |
| 2023 | 81 | 1,381 | 14 | 17.1 |
| Total | 142 | 2,272 | 23 | 16.0 |
And here's a look at Nix's full passing stats during his two years at Oregon:
| Year | Comp. % | Yards | TDs | INTs | Y/a | Rating |
| 2022 | 71.9 | 3,593 | 29 | 7 | 8.8 | 165.7 |
| 2023 | 77.4 | 4,508 | 45 | 3 | 9.6 | 188.3 |
| Total | 74.9 | 8,101 | 74 | 10 | 9.2 | 177.8 |
Franklin was responsible for 28 percent of Nix's passing yardage and 31 percent of his passing touchdowns during his time with the Ducks. They certainly have good chemistry, and Denver is hoping that will carry over to the NFL.
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The Broncos have plenty of recent examples of college quarterbacks and receivers successfully teaming up at the NFL level. Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase both played at LSU. Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle played at Alabama, as did Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith before Hurts transferred to Oklahoma.
All three of those tandems have fared swimmingly at the NFL level. Of course, each of those tandems featured first-round receiver prospects who were selected in the top 10 of their respective drafts, so Franklin doesn't come with the same high-end billing as those players.
But if Franklin continues to be a favorite target of Nix, he could quickly find success as a productive NFL receiver.
