San Francisco 49ers sign Cameron Sample

Cameron Sample's signing earns a C- Contract Value Index (CVI)—a deal that reflects the mathematical reality of depth-piece economics rather than any offensive upside. At $1.39M on a one-year pact, this is a replacement-level investment typical of late-roster fill during the offseason push toward September; the 49ers are essentially paying marginal cost for a body in an unknown positional role. The contract structure—no multi-year commitment, no guaranteed cushion—tells you everything: San Francisco views this as a low-risk, high-flexibility addition that can be shed without cap consequence if camp reveals a better option. CVI flags the fundamental tension here: Sample carries minimal production equity to justify even modest salary, and the lack of positional clarity in the data suggests he's a swing piece rather than a projected contributor to a 12-win team fighting for playoff real estate. For a roster in preseason mode with 91 days until kickoff, this move is defensible on paper but uninspiring—the kind of transaction that rarely moves a playoff needle one way or the other.