Player Profile: Jonathan Franklin

Jonathan Franklin

Height:  5'10
Weight:  205
School:  UCLA
Position:  Running Back
Ranking:  #5 Running Back
Projection:  Day 2

Strengths
-Highly productive.  4,403 yards rushing over his four years
-Good speed (4.49) and quickness for the position.  (4th fastest time at Combine for RBs)
-Does a nice job catching the ball out of the backfield.
-Runs good routes.  Was used a lot in the passing game this past year
-Displays good patience.  Allows holes to open
-Good vision, sees the cut back lane and how to set up blocks
-Elusive in the open field.  Good wiggle to him
-Shows the ability to pick up blitzes and keep QB clean.  Sense of pride.
-No history of injuries

Weaknesses
-Needs to add a little weight to absorb contact better
-Not an every down back
-Lots of mileage on his body.  847 touches
-History of fumbling
-Doesn't have great lateral quickness
-Isn't going to break many tackles

Summary
Jonathan Franklin is your traditional "scat back" or "3rd down back" who has good speed and is a threat in the passing game.  Franklin is a very good receiver coming of out the backfield who runs good routes and the best hands of any receiver in this draft.  But Franklin also provides help in the backfield in pass pro as an effective blocker.  Five years ago this would have been a bad thing, but now with the NFL being a passing league and teams running so much shotgun, this isn't a downfall as it use to be.  Franklin can be a big part of a teams passing game and still provide yards on the ground because of his speed an shiftiness.  The New York Jets or the Kansas City Chiefs could be options because they like to use the RB a lot in the passing game.  But, look for Franklin to go somewhere in the late second or third round.