Approval Poll: Bengals extend Sam Hubbard

The Bengals took care of an important contract ahead of training camp taking off. It may not have been safety Jessie Bates’ extension, but Sam Hubbard has been a very important part of this defense since he was drafted in the third round of 2018. He has now been rewarded by Cincinnati with a four-year, $40 million extension.

Hubbard has 15.5 sacks in three years with the team. He also only missed four games over that time. Most importantly, the former Ohio State product has been a huge part of containing the run on the edge. He should be able to continue that for seasons to come as D.J. Reader return to the middle of the defensive line and the entire defense starts to mature around him.

The seemingly $10 million a year seems like a bit much for Hubbard’s production, but it is important to remember those are the initial numbers with no details about how the money is actually distributed. There are probably other fans concerned that this deal was done before Bates got his extension. These deals are often negotiated all at the same time and some are just easier to get done than others. This shouldn’t have an impact on when the best safety in the league gets his extension.

The most important thing Hubbard brings to the table is leadership. He was one of the initial players who was noted for his characteristics off the field as a huge priority as a building block for the Zac Taylor era. He has been a great ambassador for the team as a fan favorite. He played at Moeller High School before going to Ohio State.

There are many different faces on this defense that weren’t here in 2019. The established defense that led the Marvin Lewis era led by Vontaze Burfict, Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins is long gone. Atkins remains a free agent, but it is up in the air whether he will return to Cincinnati. Hubbard and Bates have led the way as the new faces of this defense, so him getting locked up for the foreseeable future is crucial.

How do you feel about the Bengals extending Hubbard?