Who Should I Start? Drew Sample or Adam Trautman

Monday, March 11, 4:49 PM

The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed tight end Drew Sample to a three-year, $10.5 million contract extension on Monday, according to a source. Sample will receive $3.5 million in 2024. In his fifth year with the Bengals in 2023, Sample had 22 catches on 27 targets for 163 yards and a career-high two touchdowns in 17 games (10 starts). Tanner Hudson, Mitchell Wilcox and Irv Smith Jr. are all free agents, but one or more of them could be retained or the Bengals could add competition at the position through the NFL draft. The 27-year-old Sample has accumulated just 80 receptions (103 targets) for 621 yards and three touchdowns in his five years in the NFL with Cincy, so it would be unrealistic to expect the Bengals to utilize him as their unquestioned No. 1 pass-catching TE in 2024.

Monday, December 16, 10:51 AM

Denver Broncos tight ends Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins both found the end zone in the team's 31-13 victory over the visiting Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Empower Field in Week 15. Trautman and Adkins hauled in rookie quarterback Bo Nix's first two touchdown passes of the day in a huge victory that boosts Denver's chances of making the postseason for the first time since they won Super Bowl 50 with Peyton Manning. Trautman finished with two catches on two targets for 20 yards and the score, while Adkins only caught the one TD pass of 15 yards on the day. The Broncos haven't utilized their tight ends much in the offense this year, so neither Trautman nor Adkins should be in consideration for a waiver-wire pickup in the fantasy playoffs. Trautman has 11 catches for 178 yards and two TDs in 14 games, while Adkins has only eight grabs for 65 yards and three scores on the year.