Former first-round pick unsure of future with Bengals

The Bengals named Dax Hill one of their starting safeties for the 2023 season. However, the 2022 first-round selection seems to have already lost the job following Cincinnati's flurry of offseason moves.

The team signed safeties Geno Stone and Vonn Bell in free agency, leaving Hill's future with the team in question. 

"Everything is up in the air," Hill said via WKRC.

Hill didn't have a bad season by any means in 2023, registering 110 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions and 11 passes defensed, but the additions of Stone and Bell hint the Bengals have different plans for him. 

It doesn't help that Hill was a part of the unit that allowed the second-most total yards per game (374.6) in the league last year, either.

Whether Cincinnati is planning to trade him or move him to another position remains debatable, but he did play the nickel corner spot for much of his time at Michigan.

The Bengals already have one of the best slot corners in the league, Mike Hilton, but he is 30 and entering the final year of his contract. So, they could use the 2024 season to transition from Hilton to Hill.

It would also be surprising if Cincinnati were to trade Hill, who is still only 23 and spent a first-round pick on him just two years ago. He clearly has the versatility to play multiple positions.

Either way, Hill hopes to find some clarity sooner rather than later as the Bengals' offseason program begins.

"It helps to have clarity, but that's what training camp and things like that are for OTAs," Hill added. "It's kind of right now really just setting the blueprint for what's to come. Whatever position I'll be in I will give it my all."

The good news is that Cincinnati still has plenty of time to determine that, and Hill said he will be ready to go for anything the team has in mind.