Bengals: Drew Sample disrespected in latest PFF tight end rankings

The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Drew Sample in the second round in 2019 hoping that he could be the next big thing at tight end. Sample never had flashy numbers during his four seasons at Washington but the Bengals saw something in him to make them spend a second-rounder on him.

Sample did very little as a rookie, catching just five passes for 30 yards through nine games. He upped the ante in year two, but that was aided by C.J. Uzomah missing time due to injury. Sample finished his sophomore season with 40 receptions for 349 yards and his first NFL touchdown.

There was enough to like about Sample down the stretch last season for the Bengals to make him their starting tight end in the 2021 season. Well, Sample didn’t make enough of an impression on Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus because he failed to make Linsey’s rankings of the 32 best tight ends heading into the upcoming NFL season.

Bengals tight end Drew Sample isn’t praised much compared to other tight ends.

Sample not being included isn’t a huge shock, as he’s still earning his stripes in the NFL but having Blake Jarwin on the list and not Sample is disrespectful. Jarwin had just one catch for 12 yards last year for the Cowboys, which just goes to show that the team a player is on propels them onto a list they don’t deserve to be on. Sample and Jarwin should have been swapped, but hey — Not my article.

The rest of the list is fine, however, and this is motivation for Sample to elevate his game in 2021. He took a major leap from year one to year two and now he needs to do that again. It should be easier for Sample in 2021 as he’ll have Joe Burrow as his quarterback again and not a backup. He’ll also be the main tight end though Uzomah should see plenty of playing time.

Will Drew Sample’s exclusion from this list end up helping him in the long run?