Here at the end of May, the Cincinnati Bengals have just about $22.25 million in effective cap space according to Over The Cap. That total is currently the 13th-most in the NFL. Of course, the eventual (hopeful) Trey Hendrickson extension will likely eat into that total, but there is plenty of room to make a move or two. There are still a few low-end moves to be made by the Bengals. Could they add another veteran offensive lineman to battle for the guard positions? Is there a safety out there worth singing (yes)?
One position that may be flying under the radar is corner. And there’s a cornerback out there who has played for the Bengals and is a fan favorite. Does Mike Hilton fit what Al Golden wants to do?
Bengals Should Reunite With Mike Hilton
To this point in free agency, Hilton has not had much traction in terms of finding a new home. Plenty of folks think the Indianapolis Colts could be a solid landing spot due to his familiarity with Lou Anarumo’s defense. Considering that he’s still out there, the market may not be quite what he expected.
The Bengals have a need at corner to, at the very least, get more bodies in the room. Cam Taylor-Britt stayed healthy for the entire season but struggled. Both DJ Turner and Dax Hill were lost due to season-ending injuries. Hilton and rookie Josh Newton were the other two corners to make starts for a defense that was gashed on a regular basis. In total, eight corners earned playing time.
Based on reports to this point, it looks like Newton is going to take over slot corner duties. Either way, the Bengals will have to replace Hilton’s 739 defensive snaps, the second-most in the room. Last summer, it was reported that Hilton took Newton under his wing, so the second-year player from TCU has seemingly been groomed for his new role.
Intangibles
The Bengals could use another body in the cornerback room, if for no other reason than players get hurt all the time. There have been unfounded reports that the Bengals could try to trade for a player like Jalen Ramsey. Long story short, no.
Hilton is the best cornerback on the market, and he has familiarity with the team, even if it’s a different defensive coordinator. Is he the best cover corner out there? No. However, he is, by PFF’s standards, the best run defending corner in the NFL. Cincinnati doesn’t have to start Hilton, nor should they play him over Newton if the youngin’ is better.
However, in a division with Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Kaleb Johnson, Jaylen Warren, Quinshon Judkins, and Dylan Sampson, with a porous run defense, the Bengals need all the help they can get.
Hilton was a leader in the locker room. The Bengals could do significantly worse than an eight-year veteran who can still make an impact.
