The return of Sam Franklin is officially official.
As first reported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston on Tuesday morning, the Carolina Panthers have signed Franklin to a one-year deal. The 27-year-old safety hit, who the “open” market as a restricted free agent this offseason, was tendered by the team back on March 13.
Franklin entered the organization as an undrafted free agent in May of 2020. He had spent the previous four years of his football career at Temple University, where he crossed paths with future head coach Matt Rhule in 2016.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound defensive back and special teams cog has played in 47 games for the Panthers between 2020 and 2022. He has recorded 67 combined tackles (three for a loss), a sack, a forced fumble, two passes defensed and two quarterback hits.
With this new deal now in place—which differs from the low-level one-year, $2.67 million pact set up by the tendered offer—Franklin is set to join his teammates when they hit the field for minicamp today.
