4 surprising additions to the Carolina Panthers 2020 roster

Sam Franklin – LB/DB

Sam Franklin went relatively under the radar during training camp. But he clearly impressed the coaching staff enough to make the initial 53-man roster.

This is an outstanding achievement for an undrafted rookie given the lack of preseason games to stake their claim. Franklin avoided the early cuts and produced a level of consistency that was a nice surprise to everyone associated with the Carolina Panthers.

Franklin arrives in the NFL after a strong three-year stint as a starter at Temple. He has worked with head coach Matt Rhule at the college level and this familiarity is something that enabled him to know the scheme and hit the ground running.

This was evidently crucial for Franklin, who can play at the second level or drop-down as a defensive back if required. The player should also make a considerable impact on special teams to get valuable in-game experience at the next level.

There won’t be much in the way of expectations on the shoulders of Franklin early on. This might work in his favor as he learns what it takes to be a successful professional and leaning on veterans such as Tahir Whitehead, Shaq Thompson, and pro scout Luke Kuechly will be another significant boost for his development.

Franklin has career stats of 141 solo tackles, 24 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two interceptions, eight pass deflections, and three fumble recoveries. If he can bulk up a little to cope with the rigors of the NFL, then a promising career could be in the offing.