The post-draft glow always sounds great for NFL teams and it’s no exception for the Cincinnati Bengals and first-round pick Dax Hill, whose name has now come up alongside Charles Woodson.
In the aftermath of the Bengals making Hill a first-round pick, the amazing reviews have flowed.
And rightfully so, given that he’s a stunningly rare athlete who has a ton of versatility right out of the box. He’ll be a chess piece who rotates in with the starters and provides depth at multiple positions.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler was the one to bring up Woodson:
“The appeal with Hill is his versatility to play anywhere in the secondary. He can attach himself to slot receivers as a nickel, play more of a two-safety look, and he could realistically line up outside with his above-average athleticism. One scout told me that Hill will be the best defensive back out of Michigan since Charles Woodson, and it is hard to disagree.”
That speaks to both Hill’s ability and the quality of prospects coming out of Michigan, in some fashion.
But it is a nod to just how good Hill’s tape looked, which his testing numbers only backed up.
Hill was already going to be one of the most interesting players to watch for the Bengals over the summer. But this, plus the fact we don’t know exactly where he will play and how, only makes him more intriguing.
As an aside, there’s a reason Mel Kiper said Hill was one of the draft’s top steals, too.