As the Cincinnati Bengals training camp soon approaches, fans will anxiously wait to see players back in action, especially some of the new faces added. Expectations will be high as camp battles occur and players emerge as staters, all while fans hope to repeat last season’s success.
What new faces will have the most significant impact?
All stats courtesy of ESPN
4. Daxton Hill
With all the contract drama surrounding Jessie Bates and talk of him not playing on the franchise tag, it is good to have options, one of them being the 31st pick in the 2022 NFL Draft safety Daxton Hill.
Bates did not show up for OTA’s, so Hill took his valuable reps and got a head start with the scheme and playbook. The more practice Hill gets in at safety, the more comfortable he will be at game time.
Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo loves to be creative with his defensive schemes, often using three safeties on the field at once. It is safe to say that even if Bates does play this season, Hill will still be used regularly and has the opportunity to make an impact early.
What does Hill bring to the table? The coaching staff is thrilled about his athleticism and flexibility to play safely or on the outside. Hill is also known for being a solid tackler attaining 69 total tackles, of which 42 were solo tackles for the Wolverines in 2021.
Look for Hill on the field often, whether replacing Bates, playing alongside him, or even pushing for Eli Apple’s position. Anarumo will give Hill his shot to show his rare speed and explosiveness as a safety or anywhere in the secondary that will impact the team.