Broncos WR Troy Franklin Aims for 1,000-Yard Season in 2026

Second-year receiver confident he can take his game to the next level after strong finish to 2025 campaign.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 7:07pm

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin is setting lofty goals for the 2026 NFL season, saying he is "going to get a 1,000-yard season" and "double up the touchdowns." Franklin, 22, believes he could have achieved those numbers in 2025 if the Broncos' offense had been "a little cleaner" earlier in the year. Despite missing the AFC Championship game with a hamstring injury, Franklin is confident he can make a big leap in his third pro season.

Why it matters

Franklin's development is crucial for the Broncos, who need to bolster their receiving corps after injuries exposed their lack of depth at the position in the playoffs. If the team believes Franklin can take the next step, they may not need to invest heavily in a high-profile free agent or draft pick at wide receiver.

The details

Franklin had 65 catches for 709 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2025, a big leap from his rookie season. He credits an offseason training regimen focused on quick starts and stops for his improvement. Franklin plans to add 10 pounds of muscle this offseason to "play through contact a little more." He was sorely missed in the AFC Championship game loss to the Patriots, as the Broncos struggled to generate offense without him.

  • In their end-of-year meeting a year ago, Sean Payton told Troy Franklin that he wanted him to play more like a Tesla.
  • Franklin missed his first game of the 2025 season with a hamstring strain in the Broncos' divisional-round win over the Bills.
  • Franklin hasn't yet had an end-of-year conversation with Payton, 10 days after the Broncos' season suddenly ended in the AFC Championship.

The players

Troy Franklin

A 22-year-old wide receiver for the Denver Broncos who is coming off a breakout second season in the NFL, catching 65 passes for 709 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Sean Payton

The head coach of the Denver Broncos who challenged Franklin to play more aggressively in their end-of-year meeting a year ago.

George Paton

The general manager of the Denver Broncos who said the team is "always looking to improve at every position" and needs to address their thin receiving corps.

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What they’re saying

“I'm going to get a 1,000-yard season. I'm going to double up the touchdowns. And receptions, I need to probably get about 80 or 100.”

— Troy Franklin, Wide Receiver (The Denver Post)

“Kudos to the Patriots, man. They got it done — when they needed to get those situations and have 'em, they had 'em. And they were just better than us that day, man, for sure.”

— Troy Franklin, Wide Receiver (The Denver Post)

What’s next

Franklin said his hamstring is now "pretty good" and he's been back to running the past couple of days, putting him on track for a healthy offseason as he aims to build on his strong 2025 campaign.

The takeaway

Troy Franklin's development will be crucial for the Broncos as they look to bolster their receiving corps and take the next step as an offense. If he can make the leap to a 1,000-yard, double-digit touchdown season as he envisions, it would go a long way in solidifying Denver's passing attack without the need for major offseason investments at the position.