The Cincinnati Bengals used six picks in the 2022 NFL draft, primarily bolstering the defense.
Which made plenty of sense after the team’s big trip to free agency addressed the offensive line, attacking three of the four immediate needs and leaving the fourth for an open competition.
A few days removed from the three-day event, now is the time to step back and take a closer look at the draft haul the Bengals assembled while getting unusually aggressive, trading up twice.
Below, we’ll look at the entire draft class, including backgrounds, commentary from the team and scouting reports from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.
Round 1, No. 31: Michigan S Daxton Hill
Breakdown: One of the draft’s best athletes with a 4.38 40-yard dash at 6’0″ and 191 pounds, to name one of the few eye-popping numbers, Hill’s was uber-attractive to the Bengals because of his ability to play all over the place. He’ll immediately find a home in three-safety sets, but he also hit multiple needs as a backup safety and in the slot. There’s a reason Mel Kiper called him one of the steals of the first round.
Brugler’s scouting report: “A three-year starter at Michigan, Hill lined up as the slot nickel in former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald’s man-zone scheme. His role and impact steadily grew each of the past three seasons in Ann Arbor, culminating in a standout 2021 season where he led the team in both passes defended and interceptions.Hill plays with the athletic twitch and transitional quickness to interchangeably play slot-man, deep safety or in the box and can just as easily lay licks in the run game as he can cover the slot fade. He displays the competitive temperament and awareness to smother in zone or man, although he can do a better job exploding through his target as a tackler or blitzer. Overall, Hill might not have elite size or length, but his versatile package of skills (athletic range, toughness, football IQ) make him the…
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