Wth the 31st overall pick (1st round) in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select S Daxton Hill.
Hill spent the last three years playing college ball at Michigan. He is an athletic freak with great testing numbers, but also tape that backs up the numbers. Hill can fly around the field making plays, and he was a versatile piece for Michigan, being used all over. He saw a lot of time in the slot, but he gave up a bit more separation in man coverage than I would have liked. Still, the versatility is great to have, and his ability as a deep safety alone is very good. Hill is a bit on the lean side, but he still proved to be a hard hitter.
It remains to be seen what will happen to Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell. As we know, Bates was franchise tagged by the Bengals, and is in need of a long term contract. As for Bell, he only has one year remaining on his deal.
Is this a move with the future in mind? The days for either Bell or Bates in Cincy might be numbered. That said, it just as easily could have been a matter of Hill being the top player on their board.
Hill was rated number 3 in my safety rankings. I had given him a 2nd round grade, with a score of 82.9. Considering it was right at the end of the 1st round, it is too close to say that he was a reach. Although I would have preferred Andrew Booth, Hill himself brings plenty of upside, and should be able to develop into a key playmaker for the Bengals defence.
