The Bengals have a running back that could get some attention, during the time before the NFL Draft. Jeremy Hill could be the subject of a few trade rumors.
Just when the storm around the Bengals is getting up to gale wind force, another jolt comes along. According to Joe Giglio of NJ.com, there’s a chance the Philadelphia Eagles could be looking at Jeremy Hill. You remember him, don’t you? In 2014, Hill was the rookie back who took the NFL by surprise and made a household name for himself. He became the darling of Fantasy Football and was nominated for Rookie of the Year honors.
Unfortunately, his sophomore year fell into the dreaded slump category and things went sour. After dazzling Bengals fans with 1,124 yards his first year, the return tour yielded 794. Hill tried to get things going in 2016 but was held to 839 yards on the ground. To make matters worse, his YPC went from a sparkling 5.1 to 3.8 over the two-year period. Needless to say, his stock went down among Bengals fans.
With Rex Burkhead leaving for the New England Patriots, the Bengals backfield situation just got a bit more interesting. Giovani Bernard is recovering from an ACL tear and may struggle to start the year. Returning to stellar form after such an injury is one of the hardest feats to achieve.
Cincinnati Bengals
Marvin Lewis recently told The Cincinnati Enquirer that Gio was recovering quickly from the surgery.
"“Gio’s done very well,” Lewis said of the recovery. “He’s worked extremely hard and things have gone very, very well thus far.”"
Hill Could Turn The Corner
Once again, the 2018 season will be a time of decision for the Bengals. Though Hill is facing the prospect of having to prove his skills, he’s in a contract year. Just like Burkhead, Jeremy will have the opportunity to show other teams what he’s capable of doing. When viewed as a whole, his body of work looks very respectable. In his three years with the Bengals, Hill has 2,757 yards on 667 carries. His YPC perks up to 4.1, with the combination of years.
Still, the chance is there for a trade. The Bengals will definitely have their eyes open during the draft. This year’s running back class could go down as one of the best in a long time. Cincinnati has already had talks with Joe Mixon, as his draft stock seems to be rising. Could the sudden interest in backs and the willingness to release Burkhead mean Hill is on the move to the Eagles?
Bold draft-weekend trade possibility: Jeremy Hill to the Eagles (or maybe the Patriots?) for a late-round pick (after CIN drafts a back)
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) March 13, 2017
Even if the Philly move doesn’t transpire, Hill has to recapture the fire that he had as a rookie. Injuries have hampered his ability to stay fresh. But, the NFL has no mercy. At this point, the Bengals may have lost their patience.