Steelers CB Mike Hilton to Sign Four-Year Contract with Cincinnati Bengals

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Mike Hilton has agreed to a four-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, according to multiple media reports, the first by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Hilton is the second cornerback the Bengals agreed to a contract with on Tuesday, joining former Dallas Cowboys defensive back Chidobe Awuzie. The financial terms of the four-year contract have not been released.

The 27-year-old cornerback was the Steelers top slot cornerback for most of the last two seasons and he made 20 starts over his four years in Pittsburgh. Hilton finished 2020 with eight tackles for loss, seven passes defended, three sacks, three interceptions and a forced fumble as one of the Steelers’ most-impactful defensive players.

Hilton originally joined the Steelers in December 2016 after being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots in his undrafted rookie season out of Ole Miss. The 5-foot-9 cornerback beat out William Gay to be the Steelers’ starting nickelback to begin his first full season with the team in 2017, a role he never relinquished.

The Steelers will replace Hilton with Cam Sutton, who played as the team’s dime corner for most of the last two seasons. Sutton, who was also a free agent, agreed to a new tw0-year contract with the team on Monday.

Hilton is the fourth Steelers free agent to leave the team, along with defensive lineman Tyson Alualu (Jacksonville Jaguars), outside linebacker Bud Dupree (Tennessee Titans) and offensive lineman Matt Feiler (Los Angeles Chargers).