2022 NFL Draft: Grades for Daxton Hill and Every Other Cincinnati Bengals Pick
For the first time in 31 years, the Cincinnati Bengals won a playoff game following the 2021 NFL season. And then a second. And then a third in the AFC Championship in which second-year stud Joe Burrow outdueled Patrick Mahomes as Cincy squeaked out an overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs to reach the Super Bowl.
But the Bengals couldn’t quite finish things off as they lost a heartbreaker to the LA Rams, 23-20, giving Cincinnati the No. 31 overall pick to start its 2022 NFL Draft.
The Bengals ended up with six picks in this ’22 draft and may have gotten one of the biggest steals of the opening round with their first in Michigan safety Daxton Hill.
2022 NFL Draft picks by Cincinnati Bengals
- No. 31 Overall: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
- No. 60 Overall: Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska
- No. 95 Overall: Zachary Carter, DT, Florida
- No. 136 Overall: Cordell Volson, OT, North Dakota State
- No. 166 Overall: Tycen Anderson, S, Toledo
- No. 252 Overall: Jeffrey Gunter, DE, Coastal Carolina
No. 31 Overall: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
The Bengals needed help at defensive back, and they certainly got it, drafting Michigan Wolverines safety Daxton Hill with the 31st overall pick. Some thought that he might go a little earlier in the draft, but with teams trading left and right to grab players at certain positions, it just didn’t happen.
But that benefits the Bengals as they get an extremely versatile player that possesses lightning-quick speed, perhaps the most at the position in this ’22 class. The only downside is his weight, as he’s pretty small at 192 pounds. And that’s pretty much the reason for the minus sign on the grade below.
Grade: A-
No. 60 Overall: Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska
Sensing a theme yet? Joe Burrow can put up points, and the Bengals are doing everything they can to give him a secondary that can make sure the high score holds. Cam Taylor-Britt has played everywhere in the secondary and has tremendous speed, and the Bengals will hope his aggression and ball skills cancel out his issues in pursuit.
Grade: B
No. 95 Overall: Zachary Carter, DT, Florida
Really digging the value in Zachary Carter at No. 95. It seems as if the Bengals were hoping to get Devonte Wyatt with the No. 31 pick, but the Packers nabbed him at No. 28. So getting a talent like Carter as an alternative this late will do just fine.
Grade: B+
Day 3 Picks
No. 136 Overall: Cordell Volson, OT, North Dakota State
I don’t really think the offensive line is what the Bengals needed to address in this spot. Volson is a talented-enough guy, but could have been had much later.
Grade: C-
No. 166 Overall: Tycen Anderson, S, Toledo
The Bengals’ secondary continues to get stronger with the addition of Tycen Anderson, who easily could have gone in the third or fourth round.
Grade: A-
No. 252 Overall: Jeffrey Gunter, DE, Coastal Carolina
The Bengals went back to the defensive line for their final pick of the draft and they got some good value in Coastal Carolina’s Jeffery Gunter, who recorded 5.5 sacks this past season.
Grade: B
Stats courtesy of Sports Reference
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