While there have been many factors in the Bengals’ failure to make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, the shortcomings of two first-round picks certainly aided in that.
2022 selection Dax Hill was drafted to be a Jessie Bates replacement, but after three seasons, Hill is now trying to make his mark at cornerback after a disastrous stint at safety. While he had some good moments as a corner last year, he missed more than half the season due to an ACL tear, a challenging injury for a defensive back to recover from. And there were still enough issues at corner to wonder if he’s capable of being a quality starter there.