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Bengals Roster: Mike Hilton is an overlooked addition this offseason

By Leigh Oleszczak

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 20: Mike Hilton #28 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action during the game against the Denver Broncos at Heinz Field on September 20, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 20: Mike Hilton #28 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action during the game against the Denver Broncos at Heinz Field on September 20, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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When looking at the Cincinnati Bengals‘ roster for the 2021 season, it’s hard not to notice how different the cornerback position looks. The Bengals brought in several new faces at the position and one such name is Mike Hilton, who previously played for division rival Pittsburgh.

Hilton is a former undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss who wound up on the Steelers’ roster and spent the first four years of his career there. He signed with the Bengals this offseason on a four-year deal and it was a sneaky good move for Cincinnati.

Chris Roling of Bleacher Report listed Hilton as one of the most overlooked additions over the offseason. Roling wrote:

"He’s a do-it-all presence who, over 12 games last year, had 51 total tackles, three sacks, six pressures, three interceptions and seven passes defensed for the Steelers. Over the last three seasons, he’s never allowed better than a 64.4 completion percentage on a minimum of 45 targets.When it comes to bargains with upside, it doesn’t get much better than Hilton. He brings some much-needed talent, versatility and leadership to a Bengals defense in sore need of all three."

The Bengals made a smart decision with the Hilton signing because not only did it add a solid cornerback to their roster but it took one away from the Steelers, a team who Cincy faces twice a year every year.

Mike Hilton was a sneaky good addition to the Bengals roster.

The Bengals’ secondary has a chance to make quite the jump this year and the newcomers at the cornerback position can help in doing that.

Hilton was one of the new names to join the Bengals but the team also signed Chidobe Awuzie and are still waiting to see Trae Waynes in a Bengals uniform for the first time (he was injured for all of 2020). This new-look cornerback group gives fans hope that teams won’t be able to put up massive numbers against them, especially with how stacked the safeties look entering the season.

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It’s cool to see Hilton getting this kind of hype and hopefully, he ends up being worth the $24 million that Cincinnati dished out for him.