Who Should I Start? Troy Franklin or Jaylin Noel

Sunday, January 12, 4:19 PM

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin caught two of his three targets for 54 yards and a touchdown during their playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. Franklin made an impact early, bringing in a 43-yard TD pass from his college teammate Bo Nix to give Denver an early lead on their first offensive drive of the game. Franklin's other reception went for 11 yards in the fourth quarter. Franklin's 54 yards and three targets were both second-most among Denver pass catchers, only less than Courtland Sutton. Throughout the regular season, Franklin struggled to find consistent opportunities as he tallied just 263 yards and two scores on 28 receptions. Franklin will look to earn a larger role in the Denver offense in his sophomore campaign.

Friday, May 9, 3:52 PM

Per the team's transaction logs, the Houston Texans have signed third-round wide receiver Jaylin Noel to a four-year, $6.46 million deal. Noel was the No. 79 overall pick and the second of two Iowa State wideouts selected by the Texans, joining second-rounder and fellow Cyclone Jayden Higgins. With the news that WR Tank Dell (knee) will likely miss the 2025 season, the door is open for both pass catchers to compete for snaps and impact the field. Veteran wideout Christian Kirk does pose a threat and significant target competition. Particularly for Noel, who profiles more like Kirk, considering he operated out of the slot in college. However, the rookie bolsters much more juice than the veteran (4.39 40-yard dash) and should eventually make his way to the starting roster. He caught 80 balls for 1,194 yards last season (eight TDs) and is also a seasoned returner.