Bengals Beat: ‘Everything’s Going to Unfold The Way It Needs To’ Dax Hill and Bengals D Awaits Draft Reinforcements

CINCINNATI — For all the talk about needing an edge rusher (or two), one of the keys to the Bengals dramatically improving their 2025 defense is a healthy Dax Hill.

The Bengals multipurpose defensive back already demonstrated in his standout career at Michigan that he can pretty much play all over the secondary at a high and proficient level. So far with the Bengals, the defensive back has been asked to play limited corner in his rookie season with some nickel, then safety in 2023 before winning the starting corner spot in ’24 opposite Cam Taylor-Britt, before suffering a torn ACL last October against Baltimore.

Hill was Cincinnati’s first-round pick in 2022 and played on a defense that caught fire during a 10-game winning streak. He knows what a good defense at the NFL level looks like. But in 2023 and last season, the defense fell off drastically for a number of reasons. They couldn’t pressure the quarterback consistently. They couldn’t tackle in space. They gave up too many explosive plays in the pass game. They were inconsistent stopping the run on short-yardage downs.

What will it take for the Bengals to improve all of this?

“I would say just coming in, everyone just being dialed in and ready for a new season, like last season, like it was in the past, and we’re here now,” Hill told me. “So, I feel like it’s kind of just focusing on it now and looking forward to that.”

Now, if his right knee allows, he will likely be asked to replace Mike Hilton as the full-time nickel corner.

“I think the transition generally, it just takes some thinking out of it if you can go in and show up to work every day and look forward to doing certain things. So yeah, I feel like that’s a good start. Knowing what you’re going to do coming into a new environment, just remain yourself. Like, don’t even try to change up. Just be who you are. Like, everything’s go unfold the way it needs to.”

That’s the way Dax Hill stays sane. He doesn’t worry about all of the what-ifs. He’s played at a high level on a powerhouse defense at multiple positions and he’s been asked to do the same at the next level for the Bengals. He knows he can perform wherever he’s put on the field. The rest of will take care of itself if he works on learning exactly what new defensive coordinator Al Golden expects of him.

Outside, inside, in the middle, it really doesn’t matter to Hill at this stage of the offseason. He realizes he has to be healthy to get back on the field.

“I don’t know. We’ll see. So yeah, talk to coach (Golden) about that one, but whatever they do, yeah, I’m gonna do it to the best I can so to the best of my ability.”

Is there a part of Hill that would like to stay at outside corner instead of working with a new position?

“Yeah, ideally, but coaches have other plans, and yet, sometimes you have to give up yourself for the overall team,” Hill said. “And so sometimes, you can’t really control everything, but you do what’s best, and keep one foot in front of the other, and move move forward and move on.”

This time next week, Hill will be getting to know different faces who have been drafted like he was 31st overall in 2022, or signed as college free agents.

“Each year is important,” Hill said. “I mean, coming in, regardless of your first round or draft pick, you just have to establish yourself. And yeah. I mean, just hope for the best. But yeah, I’m excited for this year.

“I’ve been in the league so long, like, I forget the draft is even gonna be coming around,” Hill said with a laugh. “But, you look at some of the guys and you’re probably gonna be going against. But, I don’t really worry too much about it.”

Moss returning:

It appears the Bengals will have a little more security in the running back room heading into the draft. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports that Zack Moss has agreed to re-work the second-year of his contract for this season.

Moss signed a two-year, $8 million deal before the 2024 season, with $3 million guaranteed. Moss was starting to hit his stride midway through the season before a neck injury sidelined him after eight games. He finished with 74 carries and 242 yards rushing with two touchdowns. Moss, who showed his great pass blocking skills as well, caught 23 passes on 27 targets for 187 yards and a touchdown. The reworked deal is presumably a sign that the neck is healing well and gives the Bengals three established running backs in Chase Brown, Moss and Samaje Perine.