Mike Hilton can be Bengals’ X-factor in 2021

Because the Bengals have been revamping the secondary this low season, we noticed Mike Hilton flip from foe to pal in a short time.

The sixth-year veteran out of Ole Miss spent the final 4 seasons as a starter within the Steelers’ defensive backfield, and it didn’t take lengthy for him to determine himself as one of many premier slot cornerbacks within the recreation. Hilton involves the Queen Metropolis to exchange Mackenzie Alexander, who in his personal proper, had a strong single season in Cincinnati.

When it comes to protection, Hilton is without doubt one of the high slot corners within the NFL. Per PFF, Hilton has graded within the 93rd percentile in slot protection each season since 2017, his first as a full-time starter. In a division with receivers like JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jarvis Landry, having a premier protection nook manning the slot is extraordinarily invaluable. The league appears to simply now be catching on to how invaluable a terrific slot nook might be.

Protection will clearly be the principle space of focus, however Hilton can present way more than that.

Maybe probably the most intriguing a part of Hilton’s recreation is his skill to get after the passer. That’s proper, we now have a cornerback that may get into the backfield and disrupt performs.

With a PFF grade of 81.5 on move rush makes an attempt, it’s clear that Hilton can and can make an influence in that space, when given the chance. It’s arduous to think about defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo having that skill within the room and never using it on recreation days .

Since 2017, Hilton is tied for third amongst all defensive backs within the NFL at producing pressures within the backfield. With a Bengals protection that completed twenty sixth in complete protection final 12 months and was solely in a position to work up 17 sacks in 2020, that new dynamic might be welcomed from the surface fringe of the protection.

You should definitely verify in to the coaching camp updates floating across the net over the following few days. Chances are high, you’ll hear about Hilton being utilized in methods it’s possible you’ll not count on to listen to about from the “third” cornerback on a workforce.

For a deeper take a look at Hilton, try our buddy Ace Boogie’s breakdown of what he brings to the desk.

Right here’s to hoping this spherical of former Steelers pests placing on the stripes goes higher than the James Harrison experiment of 2013.