OL Orlando Franklin Free Agency Fits: Jets, Eagles, Vikings
Free agent offensive lineman Orlando Franklin is poised to have a red hot Free Agency market when he hits it next weekend as one of the top linemen available.
Franklin played at an extremely high level for the Denver Broncos this past year as the team’s starting left guard after spending the first three years of his NFL career starting at the right tackle position. He is tough as they come and a mauler on the interior.
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One of the top run blockers on the market, Franklin developed really well as a pass protector while playing the left guard position. He struggled handling speed rushers at the right tackle spot at times, but he was vastly improved this past year and is in line to make around 6 or $7 million per season from a team needed s strong presence up front.
New York Jets
If you’re a team like the Jets looking for a fantastic option on the interior, Franklin is your guy. Perhaps wide receiver Eric Decker can’t recruit Demaryius Thomas this year, but he can put in a good word for another former teammate in Orlando Franklin.
This is a solid fit, especially with the way the Jets will want to run the ball this coming season.
Philadelphia Eagles
You know another team who likes to run the ball a lot? The Philadelphia Eagles.
Franklin is a great fit for Philadelphia and they would probably love to have him. They just released Todd Herremans so there is a definite need at the guard position. You have to wonder if Franklin has the movement skills to succeed in Chip Kelly’s offense, but on paper this looks like a really smart move for both sides.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are usually good to hand out one or two really sneaky big contracts per year to players they put a lot of faith in. I could see Franklin being a player the Vikes throw a lot of money at after releasing Charlie Johnson earlier in the offseason process.
The Vikings need to protect young QB Teddy Bridgewater, and adding Franklin would be a solid investment toward making that happen.