Carolina Panthers safety has inked a one-year contract with the Denver Broncos, his agent Harold Lewis confirmed. The deal could be worth up to $1.5 million. Known for his impact on special teams, He played in all 17 games for the Panthers in 2022 and led the team with 13 special teams tackles — the highest total by a Panther since 2012.
However, a foot injury limited him to just 10 games in 2023. An undrafted free agent out of Temple in 2020, Sam Franklin had a standout senior year with 68 tackles (7.5 for loss), an interception, and two defensive touchdowns. He spent five seasons in Carolina, appearing in 74 games and totaling 105 tackles, a sack, an interception, and a forced fumble. Named a team captain before last season, Franklin has logged 782 snaps on defense and 1,327 on special teams throughout his career.
