Who Should I Start? Tyler Conklin or Drew Sample

Sunday, January 7, 8:24 PM

New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin hauled in two of his three targets for 16 yards in a Week 18 win over the New England Patriots. While this was a quiet showing from Conklin, none of the pass-catching options on either team made much of an impact on Sunday in the snowy Foxborough weather. New York relied heavily on its rushing attack, finishing the contest with just 70 passing yards. Conklin will conclude the campaign with a career-best 621 receiving yards while tying his career-high of 61 receptions. He unfortunately did not record a touchdown this season and will hope to have more success with Aaron Rodgers under center in 2024.

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.