Who Should I Start? Hayden Hurst or Drew Sample

Thursday, March 14, 1:52 PM

Free-agent tight end Hayden Hurst (concussion) is visiting the Los Angeles Chargers with the intention to sign with the team, according to a source. Hurst was recently released by the Carolina Panthers. The 30-year-old veteran signed a three-year, $21.75 million deal with the Panthers last offseason but missed the final eight games last year due to a serious post-traumatic amnesia concussion. There were questions as to whether Hurst would even continue his career, but he's apparently recovered and plans to continue playing in 2024. Veteran Gerald Everett is no longer in LA, but they still have Donald Parham Jr. and recently signed Will Dissly to the TE room, so Hurst would be battling for playing time with those two if he were to sign with the Chargers. Hurst, a former first-rounder (25th overall) in 2018, caught just 18 passes for 184 yards and one touchdown in Carolina last year.

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.