The Cincinnati Bengals will be without another defensive player after losing edge rusher to the San Francisco 49ers.
The NFL free agency market has remained busy. This offseason has already seen teams like the Cincinnati Bengals acquire key pieces, while allowing a number of players to walk in free agency. Among the players who won’t be suiting up for the Bengals in 2026 is defensive end Cam Sample.
The 26-year-old agreed to a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Sample leaves Cincinnati after five seasons as a rotational edge rusher and run-stuffing specialist.
Selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft (111th overall) out of Tulane, Sample played 61 games with five starts for the Bengals. He recorded 85 combined tackles (53 solo), seven sacks, one forced fumble and one pass deflection.
His best statistical season came in 2023 with 29 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 17 games. In 2025 he appeared in 14 games with two starts, posting 17 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble. Sample missed the entire 2024 season after suffering a torn Achilles in training camp. He re-signed with Cincinnati on a one-year deal in March 2025 before becoming an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Sample provided reliable depth on the edge, excelling against the run while logging limited snap counts. He never exceeded 33 percent of defensive snaps in any game during his final season but delivered consistent pressure in sub packages.
Bengals Have Added Boye Mafe to Bolster Pass Rush After Key Losses
While Sample leaves a void in the pass rush, Cincinnati already addressed its edge needs earlier in free agency after also losing All-Pro Trey Hendrickson to the Baltimore Ravens and Joseph Ossai to the New York Jets. On March 12 the Bengals signed former Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million contract. Mafe, coming off a Super Bowl win with Seattle, ranked eighth in pass-rush win rate among edge defenders in 2025 despite only two sacks. He also posted strong run-stop metrics and is expected to see expanded playing time in Cincinnati.
The Bengals added interior reinforcement as well, signing veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen shortly after his release by the Minnesota Vikings. Those moves targeted the defensive front following a 2025 season in which Cincinnati ranked near the bottom of the league in run defense and pass rush production.
Sample’s departure trims Cincinnati’s depth chart at edge rusher heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, which begins April 24. The 49ers gain a proven rotational piece for their defensive line as they build depth ahead of the draft.