Bengals 2025 Roster Breakdown: Cam Sample gets a second chance to play out a contract year

Bengals roster breakdown is back! During the 99 days leading up to Cincinnati's regular season opener against the Cleveland Browns, the player with the matching jersey number as days remaining will become the day's highlighted player.

96 days remain until the Bengals' first game of the 2025 season, which brings No. 96 Cam Sample under the microscope. 

Cam Sample

• Age: 25
• Year: 5th
• Position: Defensive end
• College: Tulane 
• Previous Teams: None
• Jersey Number: 96

Sample enters his fifth season with the Bengals after being drafted 111th overall in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played in 47 games during his first three years in Cincinnati on top of six playoff games during his first two years. He's up to 68 career tackles, six tackles for loss, and five sacks. 

Last year ended for Sample before it even started when he suffered a torn Achilles in the second week of training camp. It was the first of many injuries the Bengals' defensive line pushed through during the 2024 season, and Sample would be forced to enter free agency having not played since the end of 2023. Cincinnati didn't waste much time retaining him as they agreed to terms on a one-year deal the first day of the new league year. 

Contract details

Sample inked a fresh one-year, $1,267,500 deal this offseason. He earned a $100,000 signing bonus and is in the process of earning his $25,000 workout bonus. His base salary of $1,100,000 and roster bonus of $42,5000 can be earned if he makes and stays with the team for the whole year. He can also add $150,000 for playing 50% of the defensive snaps, and another $150,000 for recording six sacks. 

Sample's roster bonus and incentives don't yet count against the salary cap, giving him a current cap hit of $1,225,000. 

Roster outlook

The Bengals' depth chart at defensive end looks incomplete at the moment with Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart not practicing due to contract issues. If both were taking reps, Sample would be no higher than fourth or fifth, but he's likely the first edge off the bench without both in the fold. He was just cleared for activity last week, giving him ample time to get his feet under him and position himself to have a successful, and healthy, training camp. 

It's not a complete guarantee Sample makes the Week 1 roster, but I do think it's notable how quickly Cincinnati re-signed him this offseason despite his injury. If they go six-deep at DE, he's a virtual lock. If they go five, he's still got the upper hand against the likes of Cedric Johnson, Isaiah Thomas, and Raymond Johnson III.

Roster odds: 95%
Projected role: Rotational defensive end

Previous Player Profiles

• No. 99: Myles Murphy
• No. 98: T.J. Slaton Jr. 
• No. 97: Shemar Stewart