The special-teamer who's a lock for the 53-man roster

Buffalo Bills’ special teams standout Sam Franklin Jr. is described as a near-certain fit for the team’s 53-man roster, with the article focusing on his role and contract details. Franklin Jr., a 6'3", 210-pound defensive back and special-teams gunner, is 30 years old and has seven years of experience after signing with the Carolina Panthers following the 2020 NFL Draft. Financial terms cited include a three-year, $7 million contract, with a 2026 cap hit of $1,916,667 if he makes the roster and $4.2 million in guaranteed money. The piece says he joined Buffalo’s practice squad on 8/27/2025, then was signed to the active roster on 9/4 after DeWayne Carter tore his Achilles. In 2025, he played six defensive snaps and recorded 329 special-teams snaps, with 13 tackles, plus one postseason special-teams tackle across two games. It adds that he is listed as a safety-in-name-only.