Orlando Franklin NFL Draft Scouting Report

Pass blocking: Franklin possesses the ability to hold up in pass protection. He has a strong base which allows him to anchor and reset after the initial contact. His quick feet help him mirror potential rushers. However, he doesn’t possesses the quickness to constantly hold up against speed rushers. He will likely be exploited if asked to play left tackle in the NFL. There are some wasted motions in Franklin’s set which allows defenders to get into his body. He doesn’t have a violent punch and would rather absorb the contact than deliver. This is a concern because it will make him susceptible to power rush moves. Overall, Franklin has a good solid base and quick enough feet to provide solid protection at either right tackle or guard.
Quickness: For his size, Franklin possesses good quickness. His explosion off the football allows him to get good positioning. Franklin’s quick feet allow him to effectively mirror defenders when not in space. Climbing to the 2nd level is an area of Franklin’s game that is a positive. He is also able to pull and get out in front of the running back and deliver a block.
Run blocking: Franklin is being projected as a guard in the NFL. However, I see some issues with that projection and it mainly revolves around his run blocking ability. Franklin struggles with his handusage which is essential to a guards success in the NFL. Off the snap, Franklin keeps his hands at his side and is slow to deliver a punch. Too often, Franklin allows the defender into his body limiting his ability to create a push off the line. He also has a tendency of placing his hands on the defender’s shoulder rather than inside. Overall, he doesn’t create a great push off the line and is more of a Velcro player that relies on turning the defensive lineman. Franklin’s success as a run blocker will be impacted by the system he is drafted into. However, there is potential for development due to his ability to keep his pads low and maintain leverage. He also possesses a strong base which leads me to believe that with improved hand placement he could be a more effective run blocker.
Strength: The issue isn’t that Franklin doesn’t posses good strength but in his technique. Franklin’s strength is most apparent in his ability to Velcro and control the defender. His heavy hands allow him to manipulate defenders in a certain direction. His strong lower half helps him absorb contact and remain balanced.
Technique: There are several areas where Franklin needs technique improvement. In pass protection, he plays with his hands at his side which allows the defender to get into his body. Hand-usage is a common problem for Franklin as he struggles to consistently get inside hands. Struggling to get inside hands impacts Franklin’s ability to move defenders off the line of scrimmage. One area where Franklin is successful is keeping his pad level low providing him leverage.

Final word: Overall, Franklin has the skills and ability to be an effective offensive lineman in the NFL. His future is at either right tackle or guard. Ideally, he will find a roll at right tackle because his height and slow hands will impact his ability to effectively play guard. It appears likely that Franklin will come off the board somewhere in round 2.