2022 NFL Draft: Grading Every Team’s 2022 NFL Draft Haul

Bengals (6 picks):

1:31 – Daxton Hill, DB, Michigan

2:28 – Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska

3:31 – Zachary Carter, DL, Florida

4:31 – Cordell Volson, OL, North Dakota St.

5:23 – Tycen Anderson, DB, Toledo

7:31 – Jeffrey Gunter, EDGE, Coastal Carolina

The defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals quietly had a great opening two rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Daxton Hill is a top-20 player on my big board, as he boasts impressive and highly-sought after versatility in the secondary. He was used primarily as the slot cornerback at Michigan, but he projects best as a free-roaming safety. Hill and Jessie Bates mesh perfectly together, and will give defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo the freedom to deploy them in a number of different ways.

That was not the only addition to the secondary. Cam Taylor-Britt was one of the highest risers leading up the the draft, winning over scouts and evaluators with an impressive showing during Senior Bowl week. It may be a surprise to only see one offensive lineman drafted, but it shouldn’t be.

The Bengals brought in three starters on the line to add to Jonah Williams and Jackson Carman. What they needed to do was overhaul the secondary, and they succeeded in a major way. The only thing holding me back from giving a really high grade is the fact that I’m not crazy about any of their other picks. The top two picks can only carry a class so far.

Grade: B-