Daxton Hill selected by Cincinnati Bengals in first round of 2022 NFL Draft

On3 imageby:Anthony Broome04/28/22

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Michigan defensive back Daxton Hill is officially a pro. He came off the board with the No. 31 overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Hill, who entered the draft after his junior season, appeared in 33 career games at Michigan with 23 starts playing multiple roles in the secondary. He also contributed on special teams. He was an All-Big Ten honoree in 2021, racking up 69 tackles (4.5 for loss), 0.5 sacks, 11 passes defended, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

“He can do everything,” analyst Joel Klatt said. “I thought one of his best traits was his ability to tackle in space. He’s got long arms, he’s tough to block, he can cover one on one in the slot as a man defender, he can play deep in the middle of the field, he can blitz off the edge. He almost ended Graham Mertz’s day. In fact, Graham Mertz, in that Wisconsin clip, had to leave the game, so [Hill] brings a little bit of thump.

“When you have guys that can make plays on the edge and tackle well in space, it’s tough for any offense. Just ask Ohio State, [Michigan] was great on the edge. He’s a big reason why Michigan was able to beat the Buckeyes.”

Hill, who On3’s Consensus rated a five-star-plus safety coming out of high school, was the No. 8 overall player in the 2019 recruiting cycle. After flipping his commitment to Alabama, Hill flipped back to Michigan on signing day, giving the Wolverines a blue-chip talent to build the secondary around.

Hill was Michigan’s sixth-ranked defensive starter last season, per Pro Football Focus. He was good across the board, posting a defensive grade of 77.6 (76.8 in run defense, 74.7 in tackling, 77.8 as a pass rusher and 73.8 in coverage). Hill was rock solid and a positive in a ton of areas on the backend of Michigan’s defense.

What we’re saying about Daxton Hill

Full profile: “Some will look at the stat sheet and wonder why Hill was not more productive at Michigan. When looking back on it – and when front offices put on the film – his stock has risen this offseason. Safeties that are as athletic as Hill is and fit the run as well as he does do not grow on trees. He has a shot to be a versatile defender on the backend of a defense for a long time.

“It is positive that Hill can handle as much as Michigan threw his way, but he would benefit from a more tailored role in the NFL. Given his position, he is inherently going to have a wide array of responsibilities. Some of Hill’s struggles at Michigan seemed to come when he was overwhelmed. He can handle it, but thriving in a specific area or two would be beneficial to him.”

How long is the 2022 NFL Draft?

The 2022 NFL Draft will be held from April 28-30 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first round is set for Thursday night with second and third rounds taking place Friday. The event concludes on Saturday with rounds four through seven. The event will be broadcast via ESPN, ABC and NFL Network.

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