The Buffalo Bills have signed safety Sam Franklin to an undisclosed contract, with the team not revealing whether the deal is for the active roster or the practice squad.
Franklin, who is 29, went undrafted out of Temple in 2020 and initially signed with the Carolina Panthers. He earned a spot on Carolina’s active roster and appeared in 14 games as a rookie in 2020. The Panthers later tendered him as a restricted free agent and then re-signed him to a one-year contract for 2023, followed by another one-year deal for 2024. He spent part of the offseason with the Denver Broncos before being released during roster cuts. In 2024 with the Panthers, Franklin appeared in 10 games and recorded eight total tackles.
This signing gives Buffalo a veteran presence at safety and could bolster the Bills’ depth and special-teams unit as they look to fortify their defensive backfield.
Summary: The Bills added veteran safety Sam Franklin on an undisclosed deal, stacking depth at safety after a 2024 season with the Panthers and a brief stint with the Broncos in the offseason. The move is structured to strengthen depth and potential special-teams contributions.
Commentary and context: If Franklin makes the roster, he could compete for a rotational role and contribute on kick coverage units, providing versatility to line up in multiple schemes. This kind of depth move is common as teams refine their defensive backfields ahead of the regular season.
Positive note: The acquisition adds a proven, flexible defensive back who has played in the NFL since 2020 and brings experience from multiple teams, which can be valuable for a Bills defense looking for reliable depth.