To improve their performance, the Cincinnati Bengals reintroduce a well-known face to their tight end room. For the 2023 season, the team re-signed unrestricted free agent tight end Drew Sample on Friday.
In the 2019 draft, the Bengals selected Sample in the second round. Having played his entire NFL career in Cincinnati, he has participated in 44 regular-season games, accumulating 58 receptions for 458 yards and one touchdown in his career with the Bengals.
Drew Sample is back in his old home
Given his success at the blocking tight end position, the Bengals intend to use him more at the position. The team announced yesterday that they had re-signed Drew on a one-year deal in order to bolster their TE room more.
The 26-year-old gave his team his all, and the majority of that output came in 2020 when he started 13 of the 16 games he played in, and appeared in 16. He hauled in 40 passes during that time for 349 yards and a touchdown.
The TE participated in all 17 of the Bengals’ regular-season games as well as all four of their postseason contests, catching 11 passes for 81 yards in 2021. Sample kept to his word in 2022, but once again, injury problems prevented him from reaching his full potential. Sadly, his 2022 was cut short after just two games due to a knee injury sustained in Week 2. He was then placed on the reserve list on October 3 and remained there for the remainder of the regular season and the entire postseason.
Samples’ outstanding performance practically ensures him a significant bullpen spot for the upcoming season. The Bengal’s head coach Zac Taylor once spoke highly about the tight end describing his capacity on the field.
“Drew’s just one of those tough, smart football players,” Taylor said. “He’s what we want to be about. There’s just so many of those little nuances you don’t… Sure, you coach him, James coaches his tail off to get those guys ready, but Drew is one of those guys that really sees it from a coaches mindset.”
The 26 years old, Drew is an exceptional item, making him ideal for Cincinnati as long as they keep him in his capacity.
