Johnathan

Franklin

Franklin is being hyped in some fantasy circles as a threat to Eddie Lacy. We’re not even sure he’ll beat out DuJuan Harris and Alex Green. While Franklin’s 2012 UCLA game tape was rock solid, he fell to the fourth round because most teams didn’t view Franklin as a legitimate every-down NFL back. Franklin remains talented enough to make an impact as a rookie and will be a fine Lacy handcuff.

NFL.com previously reported Franklin would be ineligible because of UCLA’s late graduation. But he’s already got his degree in political science, graduating last June. “I think it was just a miscommunication,” he said of the report. Franklin will compete with DuJuan Harris and Alex Green behind Eddie Lacy. The Packers are likely to move on from James Starks, either via trade or release.

“Frankly, I thought Franklin handled the ball on the punt and the kickoff,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “I was excited about that, too, so he seems very natural.” The Packers are looking for someone to step up at returner so that Randall Cobb can focus on being a receiver. Franklin never returned kicks at UCLA, but his agility, quick feet, and ability to make defenders miss make him a good candidate.

Players go through physicals before minicamps for reasons like this. Coach Mike McCarthy is hopeful Harris will be available for the start of training camp. When he returns to action, the 24-year-old Harris will work to secure a role in a backfield with two new prominent members in rookies Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin.

UCLA coach Jim Mora absolutely loves Franklin, guaranteeing he’ll have a ten-year career and calling Franklin “better” than Warrick Dunn, whom Mora coached for several seasons in Atlanta. Franklin is pro-ready in the passing game, and at 5-foot-10, 205 possesses the speed and frame to develop into a feature back. He’ll be a Rotoworld-recommended pick in 2013 Dynasty drafts.

CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora wrote late in the week that he anticipates Franklin being the first running back drafted, and it wouldn’t be shocking. Per Pauline, Franklin is drawing comparisons to Frank Gore (one we’ve heard before) and Doug Martin among NFL evaluators. A true three-down back with pass-blocking skills and impressive inside-running burst, Franklin has a chance to be a late first-round pick. The Broncos could give him a long look at No. 28.

The Packers rebuilt their beleaguered running back room in the span of two days. By scooping up Eddie Lacy at No. 61 and now Franklin, they’ve added the two backs many scouts felt were the top-two players available at their position. Franklin (5-foot-10, 205) broke out as a senior for Jim Mora’s Bruins, setting career highs in carries (282), yards (1,734), YPC (6.15), touchdowns (15), and receptions (33). Pound for pound the best runner in this class, Franklin is a darting back with deceptive lower-body power who excels both inside and outside the tackle box. His acceleration through tight spaces jumps off the screen. With 4.49 speed and a legit three-down skill set, Franklin’s game is similar to Ray Rice. He’s an ideal complement to Lacy.

Eddie Lacy’s mediocre pre-draft workout and sluggish 40-yard dash times have his stock slipping. Franklin was extremely productive at UCLA, ripping off 1,734 rushing yards on 282 carries (6.14 YPC) with 13 touchdowns and adding 33 catches for 323 yards with two more scores as a senior. At 5'10/205, he was clocked at 4.49 at the Combine. La Canfora says the Jets and Steelers are among the teams looking at Franklin.

Without the history of catastrophic knee injuries, of course. Despite smallish size (5'10/205), Franklin is a natural and physical runner through traffic and also possesses three-down skills much like San Francisco’s four-time Pro Bowler. Gore is listed at 5-foot-9, 217, so he’s in the same ballpark as Franklin from a size standpoint. With Eddie Lacy still nursing a balky hamstring, Pauline believes Franklin cold surprise as a late first-round pick.

UCLA’s final exams do not end until Friday, June 14. Franklin will be allowed to participate in this weekend’s rookie minicamp, but he’ll miss the other OTAs and the full-squad mandatory minicamp on June 4-6. Fellow rookie Datone Jones, however, can be in Green Bay for all offseason work because he graduated from UCLA last year.