Cameron 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

Season	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT	PD	Grade
2025		14	17	2.0	0	—	F F Bottom 5%
2023		17	29	1.5	0	—	F F Bottom 5%
2022		16	25	2.0	0	—	F F Bottom 5%
2021		14	14	1.5	0	—	F F Bottom 5%

Grades reflect the player's performance in each season. Header grade shows the current season.

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

This signing grades out as a slight overpay for the San Francisco 49ers — the team is getting approximately what they're paying for in on-field production. Cameron's on-field performance ranks in the bottom quartile among NFL DEs, grading him as an unproven at the position. His $1.4M average annual value ranks as bargain money for the DE market. The production lines up closely with the price tag — unproven production at bargain money, which is essentially paying fair market value. Cameron is squarely in his prime, which adds to the deal's upside — the team should get multiple productive seasons out of this contract. The 1-year, $1.4M deal ($225K guaranteed, 16%) keeps the commitment short, giving the team financial flexibility to move on if performance drops.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Cameron's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Cameron Sample produces at a tier that grades a F performance mark for San Francisco. The 26-year-old fourth-year defensive end, acquired on a one-year deal during the offseason, delivered measurable production in 2025 with 17 tackles across 14 games, but those counting stats mask a player operating well below the standard for a rotational pass rusher at his position—his 2 sacks in 14 games reflects minimal disruptive impact on the edge. While durability was not an issue (he suited up for the majority of the season), his sack rate and overall production volume underscore a player who failed to translate rotational opportunity into meaningful pressure or tackle volume. The media narrative framed Sample as a sensible depth addition behind the 49ers' established defensive front, a low-risk depth play from his Cincinnati resume, but the 2025 tape revealed he could not capitalize on that opportunity to earn increased snaps or prove his value as a rotation anchor. For a fourth-year player in a contract year, Sample's inability to register more than 2 sacks represents the kind of performance that typically signals a roster bubble outcome rather than a lock for the 2026 roster, especially with San Francisco actively signing additional defensive linemen (Bryson Eason and Mikail Kamara among recent signings) to bolster the front. His path forward depends entirely on whether he can show improved production in camp and preseason, as current performance does not justify the depth investment.

How Cameron Compares at the Position

Cameron Sample ranks 152nd of 158 graded defensive ends by performance. That slots Cameron between Dylan Horton (F) just ahead and Labryan Ray (F) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

Cameron Sample's public perception scores a B sentiment grade as fan and media tone converge. The narrative around Sample is straightforward and pragmatic: he's viewed as a smart depth addition on a one-year deal, a rotational pass-rusher who brings proven developmental experience from Cincinnati without requiring significant capital or long-term commitment from San Francisco. Media outlets framed the signing as savvy roster management—low-risk depth behind Nick Bosa and the established defensive line starters—and fans have largely embraced it as sensible organizational housekeeping rather than a splash move. The disconnect between sentiment and his on-field performance grade is telling; Sample's 2025 season production of 17 tackles and 2 sacks across 14 games represents solid rotational output, yet the framing pegs him as a "must outperform the roster bubble to stick," suggesting he's still auditioning for consistent snaps. The recent wave of San Francisco signings—Kamara, Eason, and others added to the defensive line room—reinforces that perception: Sample exists in a competitive depth tier, not as an entrenched starter. The takeaway is stable approval without enthusiasm—he's the kind of unheralded veteran signing that wins no headlines but loses no games if deployed correctly.