Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Dax Hill has been the subject of much scrutiny this offseason.
Hill started to rebound under the spotlight this spring, though, by showing well at cornerback after a position change.
So much so, in fact, that ESPN’s Ben Baby made the former first-rounder the pick when discussing surprise standouts from OTAs this spring:
Hill entered the offseason in a precarious spot. The 2022 first-round pick was the starting free safety last season in an experiment that didn’t pan out. Hill was moved to outside cornerback, where he appears to be taking charge in a position battle with DJ Turner, a second-round pick from 2023 who started 12 games. Hill has taken the move in stride and was disruptive in 7-on-7 drills during the team’s mandatory minicamp. He’s shaping up to remain a useful player for the Bengals as they enter training camp.
Hill’s flop at safety last year when asked to fill in after the departure of Jessie Bates had his stock low. The team then brought back Vonn Bell, brought on Geno Stone and had rookie Jordan Battle looking good near the end of last season.
But Hill’s rise at corner isn’t too shocking given his all-around versatility. We’ll also have to see just how much his playing time over DJ Turner on the boundary holds steady when things get serious in training camp.
Even so, Hill scratching and clawing his way into a prominent role somewhere on the defense is what the team needs, given the investment cost.
