That's the opinion of celebrity manager Max Markson, who believes the Swans have pulled off some outstanding business by their bold bid to lure Franklin to the harbour city.
The Swans' nine-year, $10 million offer for Franklin, which was revealed this week and is yet to be signed off by League officials, shocked the AFL world.
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But Markson, who counts Kostya Tszyu, Mark Bosnich and former formula one world champion Alan Jones among his clients, believes it is a steal.
"I would've thought he's cheap at twice that price," Markson told AFL.com.au.
"They're not just getting a player. They're getting so much more.
"The iconic name for any brand would have to be Michael Jordan and Nike. Long after he retired, they're still making money.
"And that's something where if the Swans and the AFL handle Buddy Franklin correctly, they'll be able to do the same here in this marketplace.
"Obviously on a global scale, Michael Jordan is a different game and David Beckham is a different game, but the theory is just the same."
While Franklin is universally recognised in Melbourne, he doesn't have much profile in Australia's largest city.
Markson believes that will quickly change.
"It's about national recognition," he said. "At the moment Buddy Franklin could walk down the street here and no one would know who he is.
"But once he comes here, I'd say he'll become the only AFL player with a real national profile.
"Gary Ablett junior doesn't mean anything in Sydney. Who else is there on the same level?"
Last year, the IMG Sports Technology Group produced a report on which AFL players generate the most amount of revenue for items such as guernseys, caps and badges.
Franklin was No.1, more than doubling the next best on the list, Cyril Rioli, with Chris Judd, Jobe Watson and Luke Hodge rounding out the top five.
Markson feels Franklin will soon establish a similar position with the Swans as they quickly recoup their heavy investment.
"Initially the Swans will use him in marketing for their membership drive and ticket sales," Markson said.
"They'll get more money out of their sponsors, more sponsors will be attracted and they'll do some licensing on a bigger scale – locally and nationally.
"Once he's settled and has established his brand here, one of the major companies – whether it's a fast food company or a consumer goods company – could use him.
"His management would be looking at three or four major sponsorship deals and they would be worth anywhere from a quarter-of-a-million to half-a-million dollars a year each."
The Swans' biggest name would be games record-holder Adam Goodes, who is prominent in Sydney.
But Markson said there's "no way in the world" he's on the same level as some of the NRL's biggest stars or Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke.
"But that's what you're going to deliver with Franklin," he said. "You're going to deliver a national star."
Despite his enormous earning potential, which includes deals with Adidas and Mack Boots, Franklin still has a long way to go to match the country's biggest sporting stars.
Andrew Bogut topped BRW's top 50 earners for 2012 with $13.5 million, ahead of Mark Webber ($12m) and Adam Scott ($10.5m), and those figures don't take into account sponsorship deals.
Yet he can still have a seismic impact on the sporting landscape in Sydney, where AFL has historically lagged behind rugby league, cricket and rugby union and is also facing competition from the improving A-League.
"I think it's fantastic for the AFL and for Sydney," Markson said.
"In the 80s, Warwick Capper was the marquee player for the Swans.
"In the 90s you obviously had Tony Lockett when he came here and became the highest goalscorer ever.
"You had Barry Hall in the last decade and now you've got Buddy Franklin.
"Franklin will take the AFL to another level."
Twitter: @AFL_JD
