Sam Franklin – Carolina Panthers S
Juston Burris started the 2021 season well alongside Jeremy Chinn at the safety position. But compared to the injuries suffered by Christian McCaffrey and Jaycee Horn, his absence has gone relatively overlooked.
It’s an important area of the field at the best of times, but especially at the Dallas Cowboys and their exceptional passing attack led by quarterback Dak Prescott and the wide receiver duo of CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper.
While the Carolina Panthers brought in additional reinforcements at cornerback, they appear comfortable with what they have to replace Burris on the backend.
Sean Chandler should see plenty of the field after making an impressive start to his career with the team. But the potential inclusion of Sam Franklin is something else to consider.
The Panthers got more than they bargained for with Franklin in 2020. He emerged from an undrafted free agent into a prominent part of the rotation and this represents another good opportunity to stake a long-term claim in Carolina.
It’s vital that defensive coordinator Phil Snow keeps the Cowboys guessing from a scheme standpoint. Carolina has bamboozled opposing offenses over the first three games and they’ll need every last bit of this to get one over on Dallas in Week 4.