The NFL draft is just two weeks away, which means many teams are working hard to finalize their rosters before the big day. There are still plenty of free agents available on the open market who will likely find new homes once the draft concludes. However, a former Cincinnati Bengals player secured a new team on Thursday.
Sample Has Found a New Place to Play
Tom Pelissero from NFL Network reported that former Bengals defensive end Cameron Sample has agreed to a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Bengals selected Sample in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he went on to appear in 61 games over four seasons. Although Sample spent five years with the Bengals, he did not see any action in 2024 due to a torn Achilles he suffered during training camp.
Sample concluded his Bengals career with a total of 85 combined tackles, 53 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss and seven sacks. While his statistics may not be eye-popping, he performed admirably for a fourth-round pick. Many fourth-round selections often fall off the radar by their third season, but for Sample to have spent five years with the Bengals and secure a deal with another team speaks volumes about his performance since entering the league in 2021.
The 49ers Might Need Sample to Start Next Season
Sample is likely to be a crucial piece for the 49ers this season, and he could even step in to start during a few games, especially considering their star pass rusher Nick Bosa has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons.
Bosa suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Week 3 of last season, which put an end to his year. Additionally, he missed 14 games in 2020 due to a knee injury.
If Bosa isn’t ready to return at the beginning of this season or suffers another injury, Sample may be the player who needs to step up on the defensive line.
The Bengals Are Going to Miss Sample In The Locker Room
Even though the Sample wasn’t one of the Bengals’ top performers, he seemed to bring a positive presence throughout the locker room and the team.
When Sample suffered his season-ending injury in 2024, head coach Zac Taylor spoke highly of him, both as a player and as a person.
“Consistent player, consistent person,” Taylor said of Sample, via Matthew Dietz on Aug 5. 2024. “He’s a top-notch human being, affects everybody the right way, has always embraced his role. (He’s) kind of been a whatever I can do to help the team guy.”
The Bengals also lost pass rusher Trey Hendrickson this offseason, as he signed a four-year, $112 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens.
With Hendrickson and now Sample leaving the Bengals, the team may look to add a pass rusher with the No. 10 pick during the third round of this year’s NFL draft.
The Bengals may need to trade up into the top five if they want to secure one of the best pass rushers in the draft. It will be interesting to see what they decide when the draft starts, two weeks from now.
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