Cincinnati Bengals
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CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Cam Sample #96 celebrates with Myles Murphy #99 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
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 playersecured a new team on Thursday.
Sample Has Found a New Place to Play
Tom Pelissero from NFL Network reported that former Bengals defensive end Cam 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.