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Where does Dax Hill fit in Bengals' defense after signings of Geno Stone, Vonn Bell?

Kelsey Conway, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton (21) and Cincinnati Bengals safety Dax Hill (23) break up a pass intended for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) in the fourth quarter of a Week 15 NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bengals won 27-24 in overtime.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Where will Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Dax Hill play in the 2024 season?

It’s one of the most intriguing questions the Bengals face heading into the upcoming season. After an up and down season in 2023, the Bengals are trying to figure out the best place for Hill to play.

The Bengals selected Hill in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft and the hope was he'd become the Bengals’ starting free safety for years to come. But his first season as a starter didn’t go as planned. Hill struggled to be able to communicate and often failed to make plays when needed.

Cincinnati Bengals' secondary heading into 2024 NFL season

Cincinnati’s front office went out and signed two safeties in free agency, signaling Hill’s spot in the lineup was no longer safe. The Bengals signed Geno Stone and Vonn Bell in the first wave of free agency.

So, what does this mean for Hill moving forward? Taylor addressed the future of Cincinnati’s former first-round pick.

“We’ve got high expectations for Dax,” Taylor said. “We drafted the talent. One thing about Dax, he’s served a lot of different roles at Michigan and here, so (that) is something that we continue to assess as the offseason goes. It could evolve over the course of the summer but still have really high expectations of Dax.”

Where will Dax Hill play for Cincinnati Bengals?

Taylor was specifically asked where Hill will line up next season and Cincinnati’s sixth-year head coach declined to get into the specifics. The Bengals’ coaching staff is working through the options of where they could place Hill.

“That will continue to evolve as we go here,” Taylor said.

Hill has experience playing slot corner and outside cornerback and the Bengals will likely move him around this offseason and through training camp to figure out where his new home will be. Veteran slot cornerback Mike Hilton returns as does cornerbacks Cam Taylor-Britt and DJ Turner and Hill will likely compete with all for his job next season.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bengals Dax Hill 2024 NFL season outlook