Bengals agree to 4-year, $40M deal with DE Sam Hubbard; How that impacts Eagles DE Derek Barnett
The Bengals and defensive end Sam Hubbard reached an agreement on a four-year, $40 million contract extension, per Adam Schefter.
An important signing for the Bengals defense, Hubbard has logged 106 solo tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, eight passes defended, and three forced fumbles in 44 total games played over his first three seasons.
With the signing, Hubbard’s $10 million per season puts him at No. 26 on the highest-paid defensive ends list according to Over The Cap.
Hubbard lands below Shaq Lawson’s $10.5 million per season and just in front of Brandon Graham, who’s being paid $9.5 million for the 2021 season here in Philadelphia. The signing definitely impacts Eagles’ edge rusher, Derek Barnett.
A 2017 first-round pick, Barnett has a $10 million cap hit for this season, and the soon-to-be free agent heads into an uncertain 2022 offseason.
Barnett has logged 75 solo tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles in 48 total games played over his first four seasons.
Still only 24 years of age, Barnett was tied for 31st in sacks among edge rushers and was tied for 47th in total pressures with 32 last season.
Barnett’s overall numbers are comparable with Hubbard’s, but the Bengals’ defense end has amassed his production in one less season and he’s become an integral part of a young and talented Cincinnati defensive front.
The $40 million that Hubbard just snagged falls more in the realm of what Josh Sweat could be hoping to fetch in free agency next spring, but Barnett’s chances at landing a deal in the $12-$14 million a year range could hinge on a breakout season.
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