The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Dax Hill out of The University of Michigan in 2022. Many thought he was picked to be the successor for Jessie Bates III, who was playing on a franchise tag in the 2022 season and wasn’t expected to return.
When Bates eventually moved on to the Atlanta Falcons, Hill took his spot in the free safety role. Hill struggled in deep coverage essentially all of last season but did show some flashes when playing closer to the line of scrimmage. Hill’s struggles in coverage were almost certainly a factor in the Bengals’ decision to sign Geno Stone away from the Baltimore Ravens.