INDIANAPOLIS — There were three notions unanimously agreed upon across different corners of Indianapolis this week regarding Bengals 2022 first-round pick Dax Hill.
First, he’s as athletically gifted and versatile as you could ask for in a defensive back and they are excited about his future with the team.
“He can do an awful lot and we’re happy to have him,” director of player personnel Duke Tobin said.
Second, along with other young defensive backs, consistency and communication in his first full season as a starting safety last year wasn’t good enough.
“We all wanted it to be better: players, coaches,” defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said. “(Communication) has to — has to — improve.”
Third, there is no telling where he’ll play next year.
“Finding the best role for him to maximize his skill set would be something we’re working on this offseason,” Tobin said. “And how best to utilize him to show off his range and his size and his speed and his toughness and all the things that he has. Dax can play corner. Dax can play nickel. Dax can play free safety and Dax can play strong safety. Finding the best fit will be up to our defensive coaching staff and (head coach Zac Taylor) to determine: Where can this guy help us the most to win football games?”/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72695773/1689520786.0.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
The outcome might not be clear, but the messaging sure was.
“We’ll continue to assess all the roles as we go through the offseason,” Taylor said.
Hill quickly went from first-round pick learning in the background as a rookie to Jessie Bates’ heir apparent to now a player they are considering moving away from the position he’s been groomed to play for two years. Partially because of the struggles picking up the spot and the role it played in Cincinnati ranking dead last in the NFL in explosive play rate allowed. But also because his ability to do different jobs was part of his allure the day he was drafted. He shined in the slot at Michigan and the personnel staff believed he could transition outside.
Maybe their projection to safety just didn’t click. Maybe another year in the system and next to Jordan Battle will produce a significant bump in Year 3.
“His development and his upside is huge,” Anarumo said. “Nobody is down on the guy at all.”
go-deeper
GO DEEPER
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The point of the messaging at the NFL Scouting Combine, however, is that they are looking into other solutions at safety, the group that became the largest fall guy for much of the defense’s problems last year.
Jordan Battle sounds entrenched at safety and they view him as more than capable of growing into a leader there next year. But nobody would say Hill will play next to him. Merely — and repeatedly — that they are considering other options.
