CINCINNATI - Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard has signed a four-year contract extension.
Hubbard, a Cincinnati native who played at Ohio State, was entering the fourth season of his rookie deal. A third-round draft pick (77th overall) in 2018, he's played in played 44 career games and has 16 1/2 sacks, third most among all players from his draft class.
The 26-year-old Hubbard has been the full-time starter at right defensive end since 2019. The deal was announced Monday, two days before the opening of training camp.
``Sam Hubbard is the kind of guy you want on your football team,'' Bengals owner and president Mike Brown said Monday. ``He has sound ability, but he's really a good person. He's an example for the other guys. He does everything the right way.''
Hubbard was one of the few constants in 2020 on a defensive line that was in turmoil because of injuries and infighting.
``He's consistent every single day with his approach, the players look to him for leadership,'' Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said. ``They look to him to make plays. He really sets the tone in everything that we do, so to be able to reward a player like that who's truly earned it is a fun thing to do.''
The team is working on a similar extension for safety Jessie Bates, who has become a cornerstone of the Bengals' defense, according to Duke Tobin, the team's director of player personnel. Bates, 23, had 109 tackles, 15 passes defended and three interceptions in 2021.