Who Should I Start? Drew Sample or Stephen Carlson

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.

Tuesday, August 29, 11:19 PM

The Chicago Bears cut tight end Stephen Carlson on Tuesday to trim their roster down to 53 players, according to a source. Carlson will likely be back on the practice squad if he clears waivers. Chicago will open the 2023 regular season with Cole Kmet atop the tight end depth chart, followed by Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis. Carlson had a strong training camp this summer and caught five passes for 47 yards in preseason action. The former undrafted free agent out of Princeton hasn't seen any NFL action since 2020. In his two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, he caught six of nine targets for 62 yards and a touchdown in 25 games (seven starts).