Guard Orlando Franklin to sign with San Diego Chargers
By Cory Buck
Former Denver Broncos guard Orlando Franklin will reportedly sign a five-year deal with the San Diego Chargers upon the beginning of free agency.
Orlando Franklin is headed for a new home in familiar territory. After four seasons with the Denver Broncos, the converted guard will head to a different destination within the AFC West. Franklin has reportedly agreed to a five-year deal with the San Diego Chargers. Nothing will become official until the new league year begins and free agency opens on March 10 at 4PM.
Free-agent guard Orlando Franklin has told people he will leave the Broncos and sign a five-year deal with the Chargers, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2015
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The Chargers needed to make keeping quarterback Phillip Rivers protected and upright their top priority this offseason. After a great start to their 2014, the wheels fell apart on their season after Rivers suffered injuries from all the hits he was taking. He, and the team as a result, was never the same as the Chargers lost three of their last four games of the season to fall out of playoff contention.
The Chargers will go as far as Rivers takes them and not a step further. Securing protection for him in the pocket was always going to be their first line of business and with Franklin, they’ve started addressing that with no time wasted.
Franklin has appeared in every game of his four-year career with the Broncos. For three season, he was listed as a right tackle before being moved inside to guard this past year. Such a designation may have cost him money in the open market, but it certainly didn’t prevent interest from flooding in to his camp. The money also doesn’t seem too bad for Franklin having been a guard this year.
Financial terms were also released by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
When it gets done, Orlando Franklin's 5-year deal with Chargers expected to come in close to $36.5 million with $20M guaranteed, per sources
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2015
Such a deal puts Franklin at a very high-end pay for a guard, which tells us that the Chargers might have some split duty in mind. They could very well put Franklin at right tackle, where there’s a higher value on a line than what a team will find at guard.
Versatility is key on an offensive line when you don’t know who will get injured. In signing Orlando Franklin, the Chargers have bolstered their line with a strong, flexible option that should get their offseason started in the right direction.
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