Drew Sample isn’t often the first name that comes to mind when projecting potential breakout stars for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020.
Such a classification could go to a new arrival like D.J. Reader. Maybe a second-year upstart like Germaine Pratt. Heck, a guy named Joe Burrow.
But Sample did pop up on the breakout radar for NFL.com’s Adam Rank:
“The thing about Sample is that he’s a great blocker, and the Bengals certainly need guys who can block. Catching the ball wasn’t a huge part of his game in college (46 career grabs at Washington). But where have we heard that before? It sounds like the kind of thing they said about George Kittle when he came out of Iowa. I’m not going to put those lofty expectations on Sample, though. If he can develop into a Jack Doyle-type for the Bengals, that would be a win.”
It’s an interesting idea, if nothing else. Coaches liked what they saw in spots from Sample last year, though he’ll have to prove he belongs higher on the depth chart than C.J. Uzomah next season.
Sample wasn’t the most popular pick by a new Bengals coaching staff in the second-round of the 2019 draft because of his lack of production in the passing game. Given the selection of Tee Higgins in the second round this year and the makeup of a Zac Taylor offense, there’s a chance tight ends don’t even play a big role.
But…Sample has the ability to alter these ideas quickly if he realizes some potential and forces himself into some playing time. A rookie quarterback figures to target tight ends plenty if they’re on the field, so Sample isn’t a bad darkhorse breakout candidate.
