Drew Sample
Drew Sample (born April 16, 1996) is an American football tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.[1]
![]() Sample with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020 | |||||||
No. 89 – Cincinnati Bengals | |||||||
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Position: | Tight end | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Bellevue, Washington, U.S. | April 16, 1996||||||
Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 255 lb (116 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Newport (Bellevue, Washington) | ||||||
College: | Washington (2014–2018) | ||||||
NFL Draft: | 2019 / Round: 2 / Pick: 52 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
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Roster status: | Active | ||||||
Career NFL statistics as of Week 5, 2023 | |||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
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 team.[2][3]
Statistics
Season | Team | Class | Receiving | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
2015 | Washington | FR | 5 | 45 | 9.0 | 2 |
2016 | Washington | SO | 9 | 106 | 11.8 | 0 |
2017 | Washington | JR | 7 | 84 | 12.0 | 0 |
2018 | Washington | SR | 25 | 252 | 10.1 | 3 |
Career | 46 | 487 | 10.6 | 5 |
Professional career
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+3⁄4 in (1.95 m) |
255 lb (116 kg) |
33+3⁄8 in (0.85 m) |
9+5⁄8 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 drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round with the 52nd overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.[7]
2019
Sample would start the season as the third tight end on the depth chart, behind C. J. Uzomah and Tyler Eifert. He would make his first career catch in Week 2 against the San Fransisco 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]
2020
Sample received significantly more playing time in 2020, due to an early season-ending injury to Uzomah. He played in all 16 games during the season, starting in 13 of them. He would have his career best season to date, catching 40 passes for 349 yards and a touchdown in Week 17 against the Houston Texans. Sample .[10]
2021
In the 2021 season, Sample appeared in all 17 games, starting in 8 of them, as the team's blocking tight end and occasional fullback. He would finish the regular season with 11 receptions for 81 yards.[11] In the Bengals' playoff run en route to Super Bowl LVI, he would record 1 catch for 4 yards in the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and continue his duties as the lead blocking tight end.
2022
Sample would start the first two games of the 2022 season, once again as the team's primary blocking tight end. 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]
2023
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 would see starting time immediately due to Smith injuring his hamstring in Week 2 against the Balitmore Ravens.[14]
References
- 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.
- "Drew Sample College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- "Drew Sample". Washington Huskies. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
- "Drew Sample Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
- "2019 NFL Draft Scout Drew Sample College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- "Drew Sample 2019 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- 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.
- "Bengals Sign Henderson, Place Sample on Reserve/Injured". Bengals.com. December 7, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
- "Drew Sample 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- "Drew Sample 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- "Drew Sample 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- "Bengals Roster Moves: Sample Placed on Reserved/Injured List". Bengals.com. October 3, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- "Bengals Re-Sign Drew Sample". Bengals.com. April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- "Irv Smith Jr. Is Doubtful For MNF In Week 3". www.rotoballer.com. Retrieved October 15, 2023.