Free agent safety Sam Franklin has agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $1.5 million with the Broncos, according to his agent, Harold Lewis.
Franklin, 29, spent the past five seasons in Carolina.
In 2024, he played 10 games, seeing action on four defensive snaps and 241 on special teams, while making eight tackles.
Franklin has appeared in 74 games in his career, with nine starts. He has played 782 defensive snaps and 1,327 on special teams and has 105 tackles, a sack, five pass breakups and an interception.
Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan is set to be the first wide receiver selected in the 2025 NFL draft, if the betting odds are correct.
McMillan is a -185 favorite to be the first receiver drafted at DraftKings. Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden is next, with +150 odds. (Colorado’s Travis Hunter is considered a cornerback for the purpose of draft betting.)
The 6-foot-4, 219-pound McMillan was a first-team All-American last season and had a very productive three-year career at Arizona, catching 213 passes for 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns.
The long shot bet to be the first wide receiver drafted is Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, at +1300. Anyone else would be an extreme long shot; no other receiver has odds below +5000.
The Panthers have taken on a project on offense.
Carolina announced on Monday that the club has signed former college basketball player Colin Granger as a tight end.
Listed at 6-foot-9 and 225 pounds, Granger is just starting his football career.
He began his collegiate basketball career at Ohio University, then played two seasons at Western Carolina, before ending his time in college at Coastal Carolina.
The Panthers now have Tommy Tremble, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Jordan Matthews, James, Mitchell, Dominique Dafney, and Granger at tight end on their 90-man roster.
Regardless of where Colorado coach Deion Sanders thinks Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be picked, the process will play itself out in 17 days.
And the sports books are taking action on where Shedeur will land.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel have the Saints as the favorites to select Sanders. DraftKings has the Saints at +300. New Orleans holds the ninth overall pick in the draft.
The Giants are next, at +350. The Browns have +425 odds. The Steelers are 7-1. The Jets, Raiders, and Rams are 10-1.
Few think the Giants would take Sanders at No. 3. In theory, they could trade down and take him later. The Raiders, at No. 6, have a contract with Geno Smith that doesn’t eliminate them from the quarterback conversation. The Jets have the 7th pick, and the Justin Fields contract cries out “bridge” quarterback.
If Sanders slips past the Saints at No. 9, he could slide. Or, more accurately, someone could trade up to get him.
That dynamic makes the eighth pick (held by the Panthers) a potential hot spot. Eight years ago, the Chiefs cut the line in front of the Saints to get Patrick Mahomes. This year, someone could trade up with the Panthers to get Sanders before the Saints do.
The floor seems to be the Steelers at No. 20. Even if Aaron Rodgers signs, they need a long-term answer. Kenny Pickett wasn’t. Maybe Shedeur would be.
One of the top defensive tackle prospects in this year’s draft will be making a couple of visits to teams this week.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC reports that Walter Nolen is set to visit with the Panthers on Monday. Nolen is scheduled to meet with the Bengals later in the week.
Nolen appeared in 35 games for Ole Miss over the last three seasons. He wrapped up his time by being voted to the All-America team in 2024 after posting 48 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and two forced fumbles.
Nolen also met with the Cowboys late last week and is widely projected to become a first-round pick later this month.
