
The Bengals were sitting at No. 31 when Michigan’s safety Daxton Hill fell into their lap. Considered one of the premier defensive players in this year’s draft, Hill was right there for the taking. This selection became a no-brainer with Jessie Bates on the Bengals franchise tag this season and Vonn Bell in the last year of his contract; the Bengals set themselves up for the future. Check out the best bookmakers for betting on the NFL!
Daxton Hill “Dax” brings a lot of versatility to the Bengal’s secondary. Though listed as a safety, he can play a variety of roles. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo could play him deep middle, slot corner, blizz packages, outside cover, or mirror opposing quarterbacks. With a 40-yard dash time of (4.38), he could be a threat that NFL teams must plan around. Hill is a team player who will move anywhere needed to make this defense elite. The best traits of Dax Hill are his high football IQ and ability to stay calm in high-stress situations. Whether covering a running back out of the backfield or staying step or step with a tight end, Hill is certainly up for the challenge.
Second-round picks under coach Taylor have been just as unpredictable as the team going to the Super Bowl last year. This year was no exception, with the team moving up three spots to select cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt from Nebraska. Like Dax Hill, Taylor-Britt has the speed, running a (4.38) in his 40-yard dash time. Coach Anarumo looks for versatility in all his players. Taylor-Britt is a physical corner who is comfortable at cornerback, nickel, or safety. He plays with aggression and loves delivering the big hits. He is also very competitive. When asked about practicing against Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Taylor-Britt responded, “Going against those top receivers like that and just helping my game so much to where guarding other receivers won’t be as hard.”
Taylor-Britt’s physical traits such as size, ball skills, length, and athleticism should get him on the playing field sooner than late. Check out the top sportsbooks for betting on the NFL!
In the third round of the draft, the Bengals decided it was the perfect time to address the needs of the defensive line. With so many defensive ends taken in the first and second round, coach Taylor went after the player they spent a lot of time talking about in the war room, defensive end Zach Carter from Flordia. Carter has experience playing everywhere on the defensive line, which the coach Anarumo likes when creating defensive schemes. Using heavy hands, power, and effort, Carter has succeeded in getting into the opposing team’s backfield. Carter gives the Bengals options when backing up BJ Hill or having him rush from the end position. Carter has had plenty of production facing SEC schools, making him the perfect player as a rotational defensive tackle and edge versatility. Carter should come in and add to the Bengal’s defense right away.
In the fourth round, the Bengals switched gears and moved to the other side of the ball. They chose offensive tackle Cordell Volson out of North Dakota State. Offensive Line coach Frank Pollack looks for players he refers to as “Glass Eaters.” Volson fits this mold at 6-6 and 315 pounds; he plays physically. When coach Pollack was asked if Volson could play guard, he responded, “The toughness he plays with, the power he plays with, I think he’ll have no problem going inside.” Cordell Volson should come in right away and compete with Jackson Carmon, Hakeem Adeniji, Trey Hill, and D’Ante Smith for the left offensive guard position. Volson comes from a pro-style winning program at North Dakota State, where they won the FCS championship for the third row in a year. He is not intimidated by anyone so look for Volson to compete right away.
In the fifth round, the Bengals traded up in the draft for the second time to select Toledo safety, Tycen Anderson. Sticking with versatility and speed, the Bengals added to their secondary. Anderson ran a (4.36) in his 40-yard dash, making him slightly faster than the Bengal’s first two draft picks. He is athletic enough to be used in many different ways, which the organization is putting a significant emphasis on this year. Anderson finished his career at Toldeo with 233 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two interceptions, 16 pass deflections, and two forced fumbles. The Bengals should be set in the secondary if injuries creep in this season.
The Bengals were down to just one pick. They chose Coastal Carolina’s defensive tackle, Jeff Gunter, in the seventh round. While Gunter played outside linebacker and edge in college, he will be used as a defensive end/hybrid player in Cincinnati. Gunter exhibits good short-area burst and moves well laterally. He finished his college career with 169 tackles, 38.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, and nine forced fumbles in 47 games. Coming into the league as a rookie is always challenging but learning the ropes at your position from two of the best in Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard is an excellent opportunity for him. Gunter will have to compete against last year’s draft pick Wyatt Hubert to make the 53-man ro
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