Twenty sacks were all the San Francisco 49ers managed in 2025. Dead last in the NFL. Not close to last. Historically, embarrassingly last. The league average hovers around 40. San Francisco produced half that. So the front office responded by signing former Bengals defensive end Cam Sample to a one-year, $1.75 million deal. A player who recorded 2 sacks in 14 games last season. A player coming off a torn Achilles. The 49ers have $38.7 million in cap space. They spent $1.75 million. That gap tells the real story.
Why the Pass Rush Collapsed
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) celebrates his interception during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium.
San Francisco’s defensive scheme changed when the organization hired Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator. Morris, who coached the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning defense in 2021, runs a 3-4 base with a five-man front. That system demands specific personnel the 49ers simply don’t have yet. The old scheme’s players don’t fit the new scheme’s demands. Sample played in both 3-4 and 4-3 systems during his time in Cincinnati, making him a cheap transitional piece. But transitional pieces don’t generate pressure. Draft picks do. And the draft starts April 23.
What 20 Sacks Actually Feels Like
While most of the class had relatively quick entries to their selections – Vinatieri and Kuechly were chosen in just their second year of eligibility – Roger Craig finally received his Hall call after a 28-year wait. The former San Francisco 49ers running back, the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and tally 1,000 receiving yards in the same season, gained induction as one of the three finalists from the seniors category.
The direct consequence of a nonexistent pass rush: opposing quarterbacks stood comfortable all season. The 49ers allowed 340.2 yards per game, ranking 20th in total defense. Quarterbacks had time to find second and third reads. Coverages broke down because pressure never arrived. Every defensive back on that roster played harder minutes because the front couldn’t collapse the pocket. Sample’s career average sits around 1.75 sacks per 16-game season. Adding that to 20 gets you to roughly 22. Still last in the league.
The $38.7 Million Question
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cam Sample (96) and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) exchange words after a play in the first quarter of the NFL Week 11 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. The Steelers led 10-6 at halftime.
The 49ers hold $38.7 million in salary cap space, 11th most in the NFL. They could have pursued premier pass rushers on the open market. Instead, they spent $1.75 million on a Tier 3 depth option, per ESPN’s free agent classifications. The contract includes $1.64 million guaranteed and a $340,000 signing bonus. That’s not a fix. That’s a placeholder. The real capital allocation happens in the draft room, where elite edge rushers command first-round picks. San Francisco is projected to target one at pick 27.
The Injury Economy Nobody Discusses
Cincinnati Bengals place kicker Evan McPherson (2) kicks the point after a Cam Sample touchdown in the second quarter of the NFL Week 12 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023.
Sample tore his Achilles tendon and missed all of 2024. He fought back. Played 14 games in 2025. Recorded 2 sacks and 17 tackles on just 21.5% of defensive snaps. The Bengals watched that comeback, said thanks, and let him walk. Same mechanism plays out across the league every spring: teams invest in a player’s recovery, evaluate the results, then discard the player when production falls short. Recovery earns you a chance. Only production earns you a roster spot. Sample got his chance. Cincinnati wasn’t convinced.
The Depth Signing Illusion
Sep 29, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) and Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cam Sample (96) pose for a photo after the game at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Here’s the connection nobody makes. Low-cost depth signings allow front offices to appear active while deferring genuine investment to the draft. Fans see a transaction. Media covers a signing. The organization checks a box. But the structural problem remains untouched. Twenty sacks. Worst in the NFL. And the response is a rotational end who played one-fifth of his team’s snaps last year. One scheme change. One depth signing. One draft pick needed. Same pattern repeats across every rebuilding defense in the league. The illusion of progress is cheaper than actual progress.
A Comeback That Wasn’t Enough
Nov 21, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cam Sample (96) against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Sample was part of Cincinnati’s playoff runs, including the Super Bowl LVI appearance. He was a contributor on teams that mattered. Then the Achilles tore. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the 49ers deal on April 9, confirming what Sample’s trajectory already suggested: a fourth-round pick from 2021 with 7 career sacks across 61 games had become a journeyman. That’s 0.14 sacks per game in his comeback year. The NFL doesn’t reward survival stories. It rewards production. And 7 sacks in four active seasons tells a brutal truth.
The Draft Changes Everything
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cam Sample (96) tackles Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (80) in the third quarter of the NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Oct. 16, 2025.
The 49ers are projected to draft an elite edge rusher at pick 27 on April 23. That pick, not the Sample signing, determines whether this defense transforms. Morris’ 3-4 system needs a premier pass rusher to anchor the front. If that draft pick hits, Sample becomes useful rotational depth behind a genuine difference-maker. If it misses, the 49ers face a second consecutive season with a bottom-tier pass rush and could be forced to pursue blockbuster trades for established rushers. The entire defensive rebuild hinges on one April night.
Who Wins and Who Pays
Cincinnati Bengals Cam Sample (96) celebrates after a successful play during their game against the Seattle Seahawks at Paycor Stadium on Sunday October 15, 2023. Bengals were up 14-10 at halftime.
Sample wins a paycheck and a fresh start. The 49ers win the appearance of action at minimal cost. Opposing offenses win the knowledge that San Francisco’s pass rush remains exploitable until proven otherwise. The losers? Every other position group competing for resources. Investing draft capital and coaching energy into the pass rush means the offensive line, receiver depth, and secondary all take a back seat. When one unit fails this badly, the repair bill spreads across the entire roster. That $1.75 million looks cheap until you count what it defers.
The Cascade Keeps Moving
Aug 7, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Myles Hinton (78) blocks Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cam Sample (96) at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Opposing offensive coordinators already know. The 49ers’ pass rush ranked last in 2025, and one depth signing plus a rookie won’t terrify anyone in September. Late-season opponents will scheme specifically to exploit young, untested edge rushers. Morris has the pedigree to build something real, but pedigree needs players. Sample is a band-aid on a wound that requires surgery. The surgery happens April 23. Until then, every NFC West quarterback sleeps just fine. This story started with 20 sacks. Where it ends depends on one draft pick nobody has made yet.
Sources:
“Source: 49ers, ex-Bengals DE Cam Sample reach one-year deal.” ESPN, 8 Apr. 2026.
“49ers signing former Bengals DE Cam Sample to one-year deal.” 49ers Web Zone, 9 Apr. 2026.
“Bengals DE Cam Sample out for year with torn Achilles.” ESPN, 5 Aug. 2024.
“Sources: 49ers hire ex-Falcons coach Raheem Morris as DC.” ESPN, 31 Jan. 2026.
