The Denver Broncos agreed to terms on a one-year deal with safety Sam Franklin earlier this week. The move flew a bit under the radar because Franklin is primarily a special teams player, and most fans don't view special teams contributors as flashy additions.
Broncos coach Sean Payton has emphasized special teams since his arrival, though, and the team was not alone in its pursuit of Franklin. A whopping 17 teams offered a one-year contract to Franklin, according to his agent, Harold Lewis (via KUSA-TV's Mike Klis).
Franklin played 1,327 snaps in four years (74 games) with the Carolina Panthers, and apparently more than half the league wanted to sign him this offseason. The 29-year-old safety ultimately picked Denver after speaking with special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi and general manager George Paton, according to Klis.
Franklin is expected to officially sign his one-year contract on Friday, according to the Denver Gazette's Chris Tomasson. Franklin will earn $1.17 million guaranteed with the possibility of earning up to $1.5 million if he hits incentives in the deal.
So after losing special teams ace Tremon Smith during free agency, the Broncos have since brought in special teamers Trent Sherfield and Franklin. They might not be flashy moves, but they are important moves, and Denver's special teams units are now reloaded for 2025.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Denver Broncos beat 16 teams to sign free agent safety
