The San Diego Chargers agreed to terms on a five-year contract with unrestricted free agent guard Orlando Franklin, the team announced Tuesday.
Standing 6-7, 320 pounds, Franklin is heading into his fifth NFL season after spending the 2011-14 seasons with the Denver Broncos. A second-round pick by the Broncos in 2011 (46th overall), Franklin started all 17 games at left guard in 2014, including the divisional playoff game. It was his first season at left guard after starting 53 of 54 possible games at right tackle during his first three seasons.
As a rookie in 2011, Franklin started every game as the Broncos averaged a team-record 164.5 rushing yards per game. In 2012, he again started every game and allowed just 3.5 sacks for the season, fewest among right tackles who started every game and tied for third-fewest among all tackles. Franklin missed the only start of his career when he was sidelined by a sprained left knee and left ankle for a game in 2013 against Indianapolis. He still started 15 regular-season and three postseason games as the Broncos won the AFC and advanced to Super Bowl XLVIII against Seattle after allowing the fewest sacks in the NFL (20) during the regular season. Franklin shifted to left guard in 2014 as the Broncos again allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL (17).
A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Franklin’s family relocated to Toronto, Canada when he was three. His family moved to Delray Beach, Florida for his senior high school season. He attended Atlantic High School, the same school as cornerback Brandon Flowers, who recently re-signed with the Chargers. Franklin then attended the University of Miami where he was a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference pick before the Broncos selected him in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Franklin is the fourth free agent or would-be free agent to sign with San Diego. He joins left tackle King Dunlap, cornerback Brandon Flowers and return specialist Jacoby Jones.
