The 49ers spent much of their offseason trying to fix a defensive line that finished with a league-low 20 sacks last year, and the two moves that drew the most attention were the trade for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and the selection of edge rusher Romello Height.
But one of the quieter additions may end up mattering just as much.
San Francisco signed former Bengals defensive end Cameron Sample in the second wave of free agency before the draft, bringing in a five-year veteran who Cincinnati took in the fourth round in 2021 out of Tulane. At 6-foot-3 and 272 pounds, Sample is more known for holding up against the run than for chasing quarterbacks, and that profile fits a need the 49ers had last season as well.
His production so far doesn’t jump off the page. Including a missed 2024 season because of an Achilles tear, Sample has seven sacks and eight tackles for loss in 61 games.
Still, the 49ers have made a habit of finding value in defensive linemen who looked like afterthoughts elsewhere, and defensive line coach Kris Kocurek has been a big reason why. Arden Key and Clelin Ferrell are among the players who found new life under his guidance, and Sample could be next.
There’s also a practical reason San Francisco may want this to work. Sample signed a one-year deal, but it comes with $225,000 in guaranteed money, a sign that he’s more than just a camp body. And with 2025 first-round rookie Mykel Williams still coming back from last year’s ACL tear, the 49ers need someone who can help set the edge and handle run defense right away.
If Kocurek can squeeze more out of Sample, the 49ers could end up with a useful niche backup who gives them far more than he ever managed to provide in Cincinnati.
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49ers Could Be Headed For Their Biggest Offensive Shakeup In Years
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There is also movement at tight end, where Jake Tonges new extension suggests the 49ers see a real role for him alongside George Kittle rather than treating him as a simple backup. If that usage grows, it could ripple through the rest of the formation and leave Kyle Juszczyk with a smaller slice of the offense, another sign that San Francisco may be headed for a broader shakeup than it has made in years. [Read more 🡒]