When the Cincinnati Bengals drafted defensive end Sam Hubbard in 2018, Marvin Lewis was still the team's head coach. Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap were the stars of the defensive line, and the Bengals were hoping Andy Dalton could lead the team back to the playoffs that season.
Over the following three years, nearly everything else has changed about the team. There's a new coach, a new quarterback and nearly an entirely new defense.
The constant has been Hubbard, who a source confirmed was rewarded with an extension from the Bengals. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Hubbard signed a four-year, $40 million deal.
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Aside from safety Jessie Bates III, who is also eligible for an extension during training camp, there isn't a player on the Bengals defense who has contributed more over the last three seasons.
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Hubbard, a Cincinnati native who went to Moeller High School, broke onto the scene in the second game of his career. Playing the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football, Hubbard had five tackles, two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit.
Hubbard became a starter in 2019, and he has been one of the most consistent defensive ends in the NFL over the last two seasons.
Over the last two seasons, Hubbard has more tackles than any defensive end in the NFL. His sack total dropped in 2020 as he dealt with an elbow injury, but he's one of 25 defensive ends with at least 10.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss since 2019.
Hubbard's extension makes him the 23rd highest paid defense end in the NFL in terms of average annual salary.
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His contract gives him about $3 million per season more than Tennessee Titans defensive end Denico Autry, a 31-year-old with similar production. Hubbard earned $5 million more per season than Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dawuane Smoot, who has similar sack totals and is the same age as Hubbard but hasn't been a starter for as long.
The Bengals now can pair Hubbard with defensive end Trey Hendrickson for the next four seasons.
In 2020, the Bengals only had 17 total sacks and ranked last in the NFL in sacks per game. Entering 2021, the Bengals have invested $100 million in contracts into defensive ends and drafted four defensive linemen.
Cincinnati's defensive line continues to be reshaped, but Hubbard remains one of its most important pieces.
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