Orlando Franklin - Pro Football Rumors

Saints Release OL Orlando Franklin

August 1st, 2017 at 4:57pm CST by Zachary Links

Orlando Franklin‘s time with the Saints is over after less than one week. The Saints released him on Tuesday afternoon, per the NFL’s transactions wire (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune).

Franklin, 29, signed a deal with New Orleans on Thursday. It’s not clear what exactly went wrong, but the team quickly realized that he would not be cut out to make the 53-man roster.

The veteran played in all 16 games last season – something he didn’t do in the previous year – but he also graded out as one of the seven worst qualified guards in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. He was released by the Chargers in May and sat on the market until his late July deal.

Meanwhile, the Saints are presumably still on the hunt for offensive line help. Left tackle Terron Armstead and center Max Unger are both currently injured, meaning New Orleans may not reconfigure its front five to include rookie Ryan Ramczyk.

NFC Notes: T. Johnson, Elliott, Martin

July 30th, 2017 at 11:54am CST by Rory Parks

Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson is clearly disappointed that he did not receive a long-term deal and that he will be play out the season under his second consecutive franchise tag, as Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com writes. Johnson said his focus is now on the field, but he added, “I wanted [a multi-year deal]; I wanted it big time. I believe the Rams are going in a different direction at the end of the season. It’s out of my control.”

While it is impossible to say for certain whether the Rams will move on from Johnson at the end of the year, it does seem as if that will be the case. Indeed, as Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports tweets, Los Angeles put the tag on Johnson because it wanted to see what new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips could do with him. If Phillips had not joined the club, Johnson would already be elsewhere, per Robinson, and even with Phillips on the sidelines, it is difficult to see Johnson elevating his play enough to convince the Rams to give him elite CB money on a long-term basis.

Let’s take a look at a few more rumors from the NFC:

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said embattled running back Ezekiel Elliott met with NFL officials in New York last month to discuss the domestic violence allegations levied against him. While Jones does not have a timeframe for the league’s much-anticipated decision, he did say “everything is in place” for that decision, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes.
We heard earlier this month that the Buccaneers are well-stocked at running back even without Doug Martin, who will miss the first three games of the 2017 season due to suspension. And, as Dan Graziano of ESPN.com writes, GM Jason Licht is so pleased with his stable of RBs that he says Martin may not be the starter when he returns in Week 4. That may just be GM-speak to give Martin a little extra motivation, but it underscores how comfortable Tampa Bay is with its backs, who do offer a nice variety of skill-sets.
New Saints offensive lineman Orlando Franklin started all 16 games for the Chargers last year after an injury-plagued 2015, but he graded out as one of the seven worst qualified guards in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. However, Joel Erickson of the New Orleans Advocate writes that Franklin had knee surgery in January, and Franklin says he was never fully healthy during his time in San Diego. This year, he expects to return to the form he displayed during his best seasons in Denver.
The Lions were the first team to reach out to LB Zach Orr when he announced his intention to come out of retirement, but Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press says Detroit is unlikely to sign Orr, which is consistent with a report we heard yesterday afternoon.
Eagles rookie CB Randall Goforth has suffered a season-ending ACL tear, per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter). Goforth, a UDFA from UCLA, had a real chance for playing time given Philadelphia’s shaky cornerback situation.
Giants rookie safety Jadar Johnson, whom the team signed as a UDFA this year, has decided to retire from football, as Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network tweets.
Redskins RB Keith Marshall tore his right patella tendon and will miss the 2017 season, per John Keim of ESPN.com. Washington selected Marshall in the seventh round of the 2016 draft, but he missed the entire 2016 season with an elbow injury. He now will have to wait until 2018 to get his NFL career on track.

Saints Sign OL Orlando Franklin

July 27th, 2017 at 2:31pm CST by Zachary Links

Orlando Franklin is now a member of the Saints. The former Chargers offensive lineman has inked a one-year deal with New Orleans, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Franklin, 29, came to the Chargers as a free agent prior to the 2015 season, but he did not live up to his five-year, $35.5MM contract. He played in all 16 games last season – something he didn’t do in the previous year – but he also graded out as one of the seven worst qualified guards in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. In May, the Bolts cut him loose.

With a number of injuries on the offensive line – including starters Terron Armstead and Max Unger – adding depth was a major priority for the Saints. They’ve now added a veteran in Franklin, an interior lineman who also experience playing tackle from his days with the Broncos.

Franklin also met with the Jets on Tuesday, but it’s not clear whether the Jets made him an offer before his trip to New Orleans.

Saints, Orlando Franklin Discussing Deal

July 27th, 2017 at 8:58am CST by Zachary Links

Former Chargers guard Orlando Franklin visited the Saints on Wednesday and is discussing a deal with them, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Franklin would be a logical fit for the Saints given the injuries they are dealing with on the offensive line. Left tackle Terron Armstead still has 3-5 months to go in his recovery after undergoing surgery on his torn labrum. It’s also not a certainty that center Max Unger will be ready for Week 1 after he had surgery earlier this year to fix a lingering foot issue. Both players are currently on the PUP list along with guard Senio Kelemete, a leading candidate to fill in for Unger if he misses time.

Franklin also met with the Jets on Tuesday.

Jets Host Orlando Franklin On Visit

July 25th, 2017 at 1:36pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets hosted guard Orlando Franklin on a visit Tuesday, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Franklin has been looking for work ever since being released by the Chargers in May.

Franklin met with the Jaguars earlier this offseason, but he hasn’t gotten a ton of bites in general. The Dolphins, who have a clear need for help on the interior line, aren’t interested for one reason or another.

Franklin, 29, came to the Chargers as a free agent prior to the 2015 season, but he did not live up to his five-year, $35.5MM contract. He played in all 16 games last season – something he didn’t do in 2015 – but he also graded out as one of the seven worst qualified guards in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Jets probably can’t offer Franklin an opportunity to win a Super Bowl, but they are a team in need of depth along the offensive line. Franklin would have a good chance of making the Jets’ final cut and he could get opportunities to showcase himself for a more lucrative contract next offseason.

Dolphins Not Interested In Orlando Franklin

May 29th, 2017 at 9:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Orlando Franklin is searching for a third team after the Chargers cut him earlier this month. Guard has been a position the Dolphins have struggled to fill over the past few seasons, and after they moved Laremy Tunsil to his natural left tackle spot, they seemingly could be interested in more interior help.

But this apparent match doesn’t look to be a fit after Franklin’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said (on his weekly WSVN-7 segment, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald) he contacted the Dolphins about the 6-foot-6 blocker and was told the team is happy with its guard situation.

A former Miami Hurricane selected in the second round of the 2011 draft, Franklin visited the Jaguars last Monday. The would-be seventh-year veteran has started for six seasons — three at right tackle, three at left guard — with the Broncos and Chargers. He endured an injury-plagued season in 2015, playing only 10 games, but bounced back to start 16 last season. Franklin will be going into what would be his age-29 season in 2017.

But Franklin’s 16 2016 starts did not measure up to his Broncos work that earned him the big Bolts payday, with Pro Football Focus grading him as the No. 66 full-time guard (out of 72 performers). PFF tweeted how it’s graded Franklin throughout his career, and the noticeable spike in its respective assessments of the blocker came during the three years (2012-14) he worked with Peyton Manning, whose quick release and pre-snap adjustments helped linemen over the years.

Miami traded Branden Albert, freeing up its left tackle spot for Tunsil, and signed Ted Larsen from the Bears. The team re-signed Jermon Bushrod, who will again play guard after moving from tackle in 2016, and drafted Utah’s Isaac Asiata in the fifth round.

Jaguars Meet With OL Orlando Franklin

May 22nd, 2017 at 8:49am CST by Zachary Links

Orlando Franklin is a free agent after getting released one week ago by the Chargers and he’s now looking for a new home. Today, he’s meeting with the Jaguars, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Franklin, 29, came to the Chargers as a free agent prior to the 2015 season, but things did not go according to plan. In his first year with San Diego, Franklin was sidelined for six games. Last year, he had a perfect attendance record in the regular season, but he was one of the seven worst qualified guards in the NFL, according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus.

In Franklin’s first three NFL seasons, he started at right tackle for the Broncos and it wasn’t until his final year in Denver that he switched to left guard. The Jaguars might not have a starting position available for Franklin, but they could theoretically use him as a swingman to help fill in off the bench. Jacksonville already has three versatile O-Line reserves who seem likely to make the final roster in Patrick Omameh (G/T), Earl Watford (G/T), and Luke Bowanko (C/T). Adding Franklin could give the Jags one of the most flexible offensive line groups in the NFL.

Speaking of the Jaguars’ offensive line, the team finally touched base with Branden Albert. It remains to be seen whether they can get the veteran in the building before mandatory camp begins.

Chargers Release G Orlando Franklin

May 15th, 2017 at 9:46am CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers have released offensive lineman Orlando Franklin, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). After drafting two guards, the Bolts apparently felt that Franklin was too pricey to keep. The Chargers will save $3MM against the cap by releasing Franklin, but they are still on the hook for $3.5MM in guaranteed cash.

Franklin, 29, came to the Chargers as a free agent prior to the 2015 season. The veteran had three seasons to go on his five-year, $35.5MM pact but his release doesn’t come as a huge surprise after two lackluster seasons. In 2015, he missed six games due to injury. Last year, he appeared in every regular season contest, but he graded out as one of the seven worst qualified guards in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Chargers are now committing to a youth movement on the offensive line with draft picks Forrest Lamp (second round) and Dan Feeney (third round) set to take on prominent roles. Los Angeles is also expected to find a starting spot for offensive lineman Max Tuerk who missed his entire rookie season.

West Notes: Kaepernick, Raiders, LA

October 26th, 2015 at 9:42pm CST by Zachary Links

About four weeks ago, there was a heated exchange between 49ers players regarding Colin Kaepernick in a players-only meeting, sources tell Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. One teammate called out the QB and another stepped up in a show of support. That exchange became heated, but the two players ultimately hashed things out. While there is a level of divide in the locker room, Kaepernick has received clear support from some of the team’s most-respected players, Maiocco writes.

Here’s more from the West divisions:

Raiders owner Mark Davis told Vincent Bonsignore of the L.A. Daily News that there haven’t been any official talks with Oakland leaders in more than two months. “We’ve gotten to the point now, unless you have something to offer, something different, there is no reason to talk,” Davis said. Davis expressed confidence that he’ll get his team to Los Angeles and he also confirmed that he’s talking to a potential investor about coming aboard.
Chargers guard Orlando Franklin has only a slight MCL sprain and is day-to-day, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It was previously believed that Franklin might have suffered a more serious injury.
Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson, who has spent the year on the PUP list so far, officially returned to practice today, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. However, Richardson is still on the PUP list as of this writing — the club will have three weeks to move him to its 53-man roster.

Injury Updates: Sullivan, Chargers, K. Jackson

October 26th, 2015 at 3:35pm CST by Luke Adams

We don’t cover every NFL injury at Pro Football Rumors, but generally if a quarterback or another notable player is expected to miss time, or if an injury is considered serious, we’ll pass that news along, since those are the injuries most likely to result in a roster move. Here are a few updates from around the NFL on injuries sustained in Week 7:

Vikings center John Sullivan, who underwent a lumbar microdiscectomy prior to the regular season, suffered a setback and had another surgical procedure, head coach Mike Zimmer said today (Twitter links via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press). Sullivan is on the injured reserve list with the designation to return, meaning he’d be eligible to return as soon as Week 9, but according to Zimmer, the center’s odds of playing this season are minimal (Twitter link via Tomasson).
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com passes along updates on a pair of Chargers injuries, reporting that the team fears linebacker Denzel Perryman has a torn pectoral, while guard Orlando Franklin is believed to have an MCL injury (Twitter links). Both players were set to undergo MRIs today to assess the damage.
Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson will be out “for a while” due to a sprained ankle, head coach Bill O’Brien told reporters today, including Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
Browns head coach Mike Pettine said today that Josh McCown is day to day with a shoulder injury, adding that “if our starting QB is physically able to play, we’ll start him” (Twitter links via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com). Johnny Manziel, who is currently under investigation by the NFL over a recent off-field incident, would be next in line if McCown can’t go.
In other Browns injury news, free safety Jordan Poyer is expected to miss time due to a shoulder issue, per Pettine (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal).