It’s easy to forget that there are three, not two, sides to the game of football. But luckily, Carolina Panthers safety Sam Franklin—and his admirers—are here to remind us of that.
As he regularly does, former offensive lineman and current NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger was grinding away at some tape this week. His focus on Wednesday afternoon seemed to be Franklin, whose work on special teams shined through in Carolina’s matchups from this past season against the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens.
.@Panthers Sam Franklin jr is the best special teamer I watched covering punts & kicks all season. Something special at being the very best at what you do @Temple_FB @Keep_Pounding #templetuff #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/xccHXV6gSg
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) June 21, 2023
And just in case everyone didn’t hear Baldinger, Panthers punter Johnny Hekker—a pretty special special teamer in his own right—put a megaphone to the breakdown:
Say it louder for the people in the back!!!! Sam Franklin is an absolute beast. https://t.co/gRSCmXZcUh
— Johnny Hekker (@JHekker) June 22, 2023
Albeit a quiet one, 2022 was a fine campaign for the former undrafted free agent. Franklin played a career-high 167 snaps in kickoff and punt coverage, earning himself a solid 67.5 grade on special teams from Pro Football Focus.
He wasn’t too shabby in defensive coverage either. PFF penciled him in with a 75.9 overall mark on defense, another career-high.
Franklin’s efforts forced Carolina’s hand, as they tendered the 27-year-old in March. He was officially signed to a new one-year, $2.67 million deal a month and a half later.
