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 selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

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.

Professional career
Sample was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round with the 52nd overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. 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. He finished the season with five catches for 30 yards through nine games and two starts.

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 had his career best season to date, catching 40 passes for 349 yards and a touchdown in Week 17 against the Houston Texans.

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 finished the regular season with 11 receptions for 81 yards. 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, and continued his duties as the lead blocking tight end.

Sample started 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.

On April 14, 2023, Sample re-signed with the Bengals on a one-year contract. He was named the second tight end on the depth chart behind Irv Smith Jr., but saw starting time immediately due to Smith injuring his hamstring in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens. 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. Sample finished the season with 163 yards and 22 receptions.

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