Bengals Re-Sign Key Defensive Player
The Cincinnati Bengals are re-signing defensive tackle B.J. Hill to a three-year, $33 million deal that includes $16 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Hill, 29, is one of the league’s best interior run defenders. Hill ranked ninth among all defensive tackles or nose tackles in run stop win rate (37%), per NFL Next Gen Stats.
The North Carolina State product was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He played three seasons in New York before being traded to Cincinnati for center Billy Price in August of 2021.
In the 2021 AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs, Hill intercepted Patrick Mahomes when the Bengals were down 13–21 with 2:18 remaining in the third quarter, leading to the game-tying touchdown in the eventual 27–24 overtime victory.
This is Hill’s second contract with the Bengals. He signed a three-year, $30 million contract extension with the Bengals in March of 2022.
Hill has 23.5 sacks and 341 tackles in seven seasons. He started 50 games for the Bengals over the past four seasons. In 64 games with Cincinnati, he has 16 sacks and 53 quarterback hits.
In addition to Joe Burrow’s massive contract, the Bengals also have to pay star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Higgins got franchised tagged again, while Chase is reportedly seeking $40 million per year. In the end, there was just not enough to go around for All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who was given permission to seek a trade.
Hendrickson looking to play elsewhere gave the Bengals an opportunity to lock up a key defensive player in Hill.