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Drew Sample

Drew Sample
refer to caption
Sample with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020
No. 89 – Cincinnati Bengals
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1996-04-16) April 16, 1996 (age 28)
Bellevue, Washington, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school:Newport (Bellevue, Washington)
College:Washington (2014–2018)
NFL draft:2019 / round: 2 / pick: 52
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 12, 2024
Receptions:89
Receiving yards:672
Receiving touchdowns:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Drew Sample (born April 16, 1996) is an American professional football tight end and fullback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft.[1]

College career

Sample caught 46 passes for 487 yards and five touchdowns in his four seasons at Washington. As a senior, he caught 25 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns, earning him an honorable mention on the All-Pac-12 Conference team.[2][3]

College statistics

Season Games Receiving
GP GS Rec Yards Avg TD
Washington Huskies
2014 Redshirt Redshirt
2015 13 7 5 45 9.0 2
2016 14 12 9 106 11.8 0
2017 10 7 7 84 12.0 0
2018 14 14 25 252 10.1 3
Career 52 40 46 487 10.6 5

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 4+34 in
(1.95 m)
255 lb
(116 kg)
33+38 in
(0.85 m)
9+58 in
(0.24 m)
4.71 s 1.58 s 2.73 s 4.31 s 7.15 s 33.5 in
(0.85 m)
9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m)
All values from NFL Combine[4][5][6]

Sample was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round with the 52nd overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.[7] He started the season as the third tight end on the depth chart, behind C. J. Uzomah and Tyler Eifert. He made his first career catch in Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers. He was placed on injured reserve on December 7, 2019, with an ankle injury.[8] He finished the season with five catches for 30 yards through nine games and two starts.[9]

Sample received significantly more playing time in 2020 due to an Uzomah suffering a season-ending injury. Sample played in all 16 games and started in 13. He caught 40 passes for 349 yards and a touchdown, in Week 17 against the Houston Texans.[10]

In the 2021 season, Sample appeared in all 17 games, starting in 8 of them. He finished the regular season with 11 receptions for 81 yards.[11] In the Bengals' playoff run en route to Super Bowl LVI, he recorded 1 catch for 4 yards in the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Sample primarily contributed to the Bengals as a blocking specialist.

Sample started the first two games of the 2022 season, where he was once again heavily used as a blocker. In Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, Sample suffered a season-ending knee injury and was placed on injured reserve on October 3, 2022.[12]

On April 14, 2023, Sample re-signed with the Bengals on a one-year contract.[13] He was named the second tight end on the depth chart behind Irv Smith Jr., but saw starting time due to Smith injuring his hamstring in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens.[14] Sample caught two touchdown passes in 2023, one in Week 9 against the Buffalo Bills, and the other in Week 12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, being his first touchdowns in three years.[15] Sample finished the season with 163 yards, 22 receptions, and a touchdown. Sample was again a key blocker for the Bengals and was graded by Pro Football Focus as the eighth best blocking tight end in the league during the 2023 NFL season. In addition to his role as a blocking tight end, Sample was also utilized as a fullback.

On March 11, 2024, Sample signed a three-year, $10.5 million contract extension with the Bengals through the 2026 season.[16]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Tgt Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2019 CIN 9 2 6 5 30 6.0 21 0 0 0
2020 CIN 16 13 53 40 349 8.7 23 1 1 1
2021 CIN 17 8 15 11 81 7.4 19 0 0 0
2022 CIN 2 2 2 2 -2 -1.0 2 0 0 0
2023 CIN 17 10 27 22 163 7.4 22 2 0 0
Career 61 35 103 80 621 7.8 23 3 1 1

Playoffs

Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Tgt Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2021 CIN 4 2 2 1 4 4.0 4 0 0 0
Career 4 2 2 1 4 4.0 4 0 0 0

References

  1. ^ Jude, Adam (April 26, 2019). "UW tight end Drew Sample selected in second round of NFL draft by Cincinnati Bengals". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  2. ^ "Drew Sample College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  3. ^ "Drew Sample". Washington Huskies. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  4. ^ "Drew Sample Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  5. ^ "2019 NFL Draft Scout Drew Sample College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  6. ^ "Drew Sample 2019 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  7. ^ Marcum, Jason (April 26, 2019). "Bengals select Drew Sample in Round 2". SB Nation. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  8. ^ "Bengals Sign Henderson, Place Sample on Reserve/Injured". Bengals.com. December 7, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  9. ^ "Drew Sample 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "Drew Sample 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  11. ^ "Drew Sample 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "Bengals Roster Moves: Sample Placed on Reserved/Injured List". Bengals.com. October 3, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  13. ^ "Bengals Re-Sign Drew Sample". Bengals.com. April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  14. ^ "Irv Smith Jr. Is Doubtful For MNF In Week 3". www.rotoballer.com. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  15. ^ "WATCH: Drew Sample Score Key Touchdown In Cincinnati's Win Over Buffalo Sunday Night". 247Sports. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  16. ^ "Bengals Re-Sign Drew Sample". Bengals.com. March 11, 2024.