Bengals Edge Sam Hubbard has announced his retirement. Hubbard spent all seven of his NFL seasons in Cincinnati, after graduating from Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati and then playing three seasons at Ohio State (about an hour and a half from Cincinnati). The former third-round pick tallied 38.5 career sacks, with a high of 8.5 in his second season (2019). Hubbard served as a full-time starter from that year on and started 88 of 104 career regular-season games.
Hubbard's effectiveness -- and, eventually, his playing time -- fell way off in 2024. He admitted that he was playing through a nagging hamstring injury the entire season.
The Bengals looked likely to move on from Hubbard this offseason, even if he remained active. His official departure sharpens the focus on opposite edge Trey Hendrickson.
The 2024 NFL sack leader has a year left on his contract but has been looking for more money since before last season. That dispute powered trade buzz but no move.
Hendrickson's now set to count $18.7 million against the 2025 cap, a fine number for a top-level pass rusher. But he also turned 30 in December and would count just $2.7 million against the 2025 cap if the Bengals move on. (And he likely remains disgruntled.)
Cincinnati also has to decide whether to re-sign Edge Joseph Ossai, a former third-round pick who turns 25 in April and enjoyed a late-2024 breakout.
We'll see exactly what the Bengals do at the position. The Hubbard retirement at least clears some cap space.
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