ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — “My time to shine?” Denver defensive end John Franklin-Myers cracked as he stepped up to the podium after the Broncos’ practice Monday.
Actually, he’d already done just that.
The former New York Jets defensive end, who was acquired by the Broncos in a draft-day trade, used the first full-padded workout of training camp to show off the power and push that had so impressed Denver’s front office this spring.
“It was good,” coach Sean Payton said after witnessing JFM’s physicality and determination up close for the first time. “Man, his production is very consistent year in and year out, what he’s done. And, generally speaking, what we saw was the physicality of how he plays.
“He’s not a guy that’s going to take an edge all the time, but he’s going to get push and disrupt the pocket in a way that’s problematic — just as a sack would be. But certainly a player like him is going to stand out more with pads.”
Franklin-Myers was as eager as everyone else to get to Monday and not have to hold back like he has so far.
“Personally, I enjoy every chance I get to come out here, pads or no pads,” Franklin-Myers said. “I’m out there trying to get better. I’m in a new scheme so I’m going through the learning process of that. But you put the pads on and shoot, it’s time to go.”
Fellow defensive end Zach Allen called coordinator Vance Joseph’s second-year scheme more “aggressive and attacking” with the additions of relentless linemen such as Franklin-Myers and nose tackle Malcolm Roach, the latest former Saints player to follow Payton to Denver.
“I played five years of that attack front” with the Jets, “so it’s something that I’m obviously used to,” Franklin-Myers said. “But I got here and understood the assignment. They said get off the ball and be disruptive. Shoot, sign me up.”
Franklin-Myers had at least one familiar face when he was traded to Denver.
Zach Wilson was acquired from the Jets about the same time Franklin-Myers was and the fourth-year pro is locked in a three-way quarterback competition with former Oregon star Bo Nix and holdover Jarrett Stidham.
Franklin-Myers said he sees a different Wilson than the one who went 12-21 over three seasons in the Meadowlands after the Jets selected him second overall in the 2021 draft out of BYU.
Franklin-Myers said he sees more maturity in Wilson now.
“When he was a younger kid coming into New York, it was tough for him over there,” Franklin-Myers said. “He shows up to work, he definitely puts his best foot forward every day and he wants to be better, he wants to learn. He asks questions and you talk about getting better, that’s the first step.”
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