Cam Sample

Career StatsF

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		61	7.0	85	6
2025		14	2.0	17	2.5
2023		17	1.5	29	0
2022		16

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Bengals secured solid value with Cam Sample's one-year, $1.2M deal, earning a B- CVI that reflects smart depth management at a reasonable price point. Sample slots in as a reliable depth piece at defensive end, and his $1.2M AAV represents appropriate compensation for a rotational pass rusher who can contribute in specific packages without breaking the bank. The minimal guaranteed money ($0.1M) gives Cincinnati excellent flexibility while Sample gets an opportunity to prove he deserves a larger role in their defensive rotation. This low-risk, one-year structure allows the Bengals to evaluate Sample's fit within their system without any long-term financial commitment, making it an easy cut if he doesn't perform or a potential bargain if he exceeds expectations. For a team that needs affordable depth along the defensive line, this represents exactly the type of shrewd roster-building move that keeps competitive teams under the salary cap while maintaining quality throughout the depth chart.

Performance Analysis

Cam Sample earns an F for the Bengals at defensive end, a player who has not generated the pass-rush production Cincinnati expected. Sample was drafted to provide depth and development on the edge, but neither has materialized in any meaningful way. His pass-rush moves are predictable, and NFL tackles have had no trouble neutralizing him. The Bengals have younger, more dynamic options ahead of him on the depth chart. Sample is a roster casualty waiting to happen unless he shows something dramatically different in a hurry.

Fan Sentiment

A sensible depth addition, San Francisco lands a rotational edge rusher on a low-risk one-year deal. Multiple outlets confirmed the signing, framing it as a straightforward defensive line depth move. Sample flashed pass-rush potential in Cincinnati but never secured a consistent starting role. Fans are intrigued by the scheme fit, though expectations remain modest for a rotational contributor. If Sample develops under San Francisco's elite defensive coaching, he could outperform his depth-signing status.