We're friends so it's cool but we should point out the double standard here -- that you're calling it "putting the cart before the horse" when I make my prediction about Franklin but not when you make your prediction about Franklin. Let's make the obvious correction: both are guesses about whether Franklin will last as long as he likes. Both equally put the cart before the horse.
As for this "hired gun" QB thing: I take it you aren't impressed with Dylan McCaffery. You don't need to be, but it's funny that you're confident he can't be special. The coaches and fans like him a lot. He seems to be developing well for a sophomore and looked sharp in tough moments when Shea was injured last year. As an added bonus, he has good speed and instincts as a runner.
Then for Brown doing well with Hoke's recruits. Yes he did. He took Hoke's kids and made them the #1 defense in the country in 2016. That doesn't seem to impress you, either. But it surely isn't a reason to knock the guy. He has also kept the defense at that "Top 5 nationally" level with his and Harbaugh's recruits. I know you've heard of Devin Bush, Rashan Gary, David Long, Lavert Hill, etc., and it's not like Michigan ever stopped recruiting well.
Whether it's with his guys or his predecessors, Don Brown's record so far makes him the best DC Michigan has had since ... well that's not an easy question but you'd definitely have to go back before 2000 to get the answer.
Maybe you're just a tough guy to impress.