Bengals should trigger Dax Hill fifth-year option and re-sign Mike Hilton
Dax Hill is developing and a versatile defender in the secondary and Hilton was the second-best defender in 2024.
When calculating fifth-year options on rookie contracts, there are multiple tiers that can significantly increase that number. If a player drafted in the first round is selected for multiple Pro Bowls, they receive a salary comparable to that of the franchise tag. Another tier is a percentage of snaps, all the way down to an average of the highest 3rd-25th paid players at their position. [Spotrac has the breakdown]
According to Spotrac’s calculations, Bengals safety Dax Hill will earn $9,267,000 in 2026 if the Bengals trigger his fifth-year option by May’s deadline. Hill started five games at outside cornerback in 2024 before a knee injury against the Baltimore Ravens in Week Five ended his season. He started all 17 games in 2023 at safety and posted 110 tackles with 1.5 quarterback sacks and two interceptions.
Hill seems poised to play nickel corner in 2025, with D.J. Turner and Cam Taylor-Britt on the outside. Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes that Hill is a “candidate to kick inside to the slot” and also comments on Duke Tobin’s tone regarding Mike Hilton’s future.
“He was about to really explode,” Tobin said. “He was playing well and we’re going to be talking about a very, very fine corner. Wherever Al decides to line him up. If he lines him up inside, outside, wherever we’re going to be talking about a fantastic player. He just needs to get back. And normally the second year off an ACL is a little easier than the first year, but I think he’s such a dynamic athlete that he might show us that the first year is just as good.”
Certainly sounds like the words of an executive expected to allow Mike Hilton to go elsewhere in free agency and exercise the fifth-year option on Hill before the May 2 deadline. Hill resides in the lowest tier of fifth-year option status with no Pro Bowls or sustained snap counts over multiple seasons to hit the escalators. It will only cost about $13 million to lock him up for 2026. That’s happening.
Hill is one of 26 defensive backs in the NFL with multiple quarterback sacks and interceptions in the last two seasons. Although this statistic is not as impressive as those ranked in the top five, it is important to consider that Hill missed 12 games in 2024. Additionally, Hill, Mike Hilton, and Jordan Battle, are the only defensive backs in Cincinnati with multiple sacks and interceptions the last two seasons.
Cincinnati should trigger the fifth-year option for Hill. Maybe that's a no-brainer, but the argument needs to be made. It will be interesting to see a healthy defensive backfield with Hill, D.J. Turner, and Cam Taylor-Britt.
Paul Dehner’s interpretation of Tobin’s inference that Hilton could leave for free agency isn’t encouraging, further compounded by a vague tweet by the veteran cornerback. Despite being 30, Hilton was easily one of Cincinnati’s best defenders in 2024. Yes, it’s a low bar to clear, but of Bengals defenders with 500 or more defensive snaps last season, Hilton ranked second on the team with an PFF defensive score of 75.9. Hilton had the best coverage grade with the Bengals (68.5), and was the top run defender with a PFF score of 91.7.
Cincinnati’s possible willingness to allow Hilton to leave reminds me of Jessie Bates. This is not a comparison of talent but rather an observation allowing one of their best defenders to leave with the unqualified hope that his replacement will adequately fill his role. We’re not sure, yet It’s important for the Bengals to accumulate talent on defense, which has not ranked in the top 15 since 2015.
Talent on the defensive line has shifted with D.J. Reader’s departure, Sheldon Rankins’ release, Myles Murphy’s lack of development, Sam Hubbard’s declining production, and B.J. Hill entering free agency. The secondary is young and the Bengals would be wise to keep it complemented with Hilton’s proven and effective presence.
Hilton posted a vague tweet Monday making fans wonder if his future in Cincinnati is over.
