Dax Hill

Career StatsB+

Year	Team	GP	INT	PD	Tkl
Career		54	3	24	239
2025		17	1	11	88
2024		5	0	2	25
2023		17

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Net of age, position, and term, Dax Hill's deal earns a A- Contract Value Index. At $2.9M AAV across four years, Hill has locked in extremely reasonable compensation for a fourth-year cornerback with a B+ performance grade and legitimate depth-to-contributor upside, especially considering his 2025 season output of 88 tackles and 1 INT across 17 games—production that validates the Bengals' patience with his positional development. The salary sits well below market for even solid-starter cornerbacks, making this contract a structural win for Cincinnati regardless of whether Hill solidifies as a boundary corner, slot, or safety hybrid; the franchise maintains maximum flexibility without overpaying for role clarity. At 25, Hill remains early enough in his prime to reward the organization's restraint—a four-year window that aligns perfectly with the kind of late-bloomer trajectory he's begun to trace, and the recent extension talks cited in media coverage suggest both sides view this as mutually beneficial. The real question isn't whether the CVI holds up mathematically; it's whether the Bengals can finally define his positional role in 2026 and unlock the B+ performance grade into a consistent starter, a clarification that would cement this as an absolute steal for a team navigating a 6-11 season and competing for secondary depth in a loaded cornerback market.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the A band — a quick read on where Dax's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Dax Hill is a four-year Bengals cornerback who has established himself as a reliable, high-volume defender in Cincinnati's secondary. The 25-year-old has logged 54 career games and earned a B+ grade this season, reflecting his continued evolution as a ball-hawking, tackle-heavy corner. Hill operates as a safety-adjacent cornerback, leveraging his size and range to impact plays across the formation. Hill's calling card is elite tackle production, currently averaging 5.18 per game—nearly matching the NFL elite threshold of 5.20—which speaks to his willingness to attack downhill and play physical. His pass defense rate of 0.65 per game also exceeds the league average of 0.33, demonstrating consistent coverage recognition and hands-on technique. The primary concern is interception generation: at 0.06 per game, he trails the NFL average of 0.10 significantly, suggesting he disrupts but doesn't always finish plays with ball security. After dipping to a C+ in 2024, Hill rebounded with a B- this season, though the trajectory remains uneven compared to his B+ campaign in 2023. His body of work as a versatile, tackle-first defensive back suggests higher ceiling than this season's snapshot indicates. Hill's value hinges on whether he can marry his coverage instincts with improved turnover production and maintain consistency in the backend.

How Dax Compares at the Position

Dax Hill ranks 28th of 272 graded cornerbacks by performance. That slots Dax between Zyon Mccollum (B+) just ahead and Tarheeb Still (B+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Dax Hill's public perception has undergone a notable rehabilitation, earning a B- sentiment grade as he heads into what could be a pivotal contract year with the Cincinnati Bengals. The media narrative has shifted from viewing Hill as a potential first-round bust to framing him as a late-developing success story, with his strong 2025 finish effectively quieting the early career doubts that plagued his reputation. Analysts and fans have embraced the cautiously optimistic tone surrounding Hill, particularly given the reported early-stage extension talks that suggest mutual interest between player and organization. However, the persistent question mark over his optimal position — whether at safety, slot corner, or boundary corner — continues to temper the enthusiasm and prevents him from achieving elite perception status. The Bengals' ongoing positional ambiguity with Hill represents the primary obstacle to his public image fully crystallizing, as both media and fans remain uncertain about where exactly he fits in Cincinnati's long-term defensive plans. His B- grade reflects a player who has successfully rebuilt confidence but hasn't yet achieved the clarity of role that would elevate him to franchise-cornerstone status in the public eye.