Versatility is paramount in today’s NFL, especially in the secondary. With the ability to play multiple roles, Michigan safety Daxton Hill should be coveted in the 2022 NFL Draft. Projections have Hill coming off the board in the mid-to-late first round — where are his best landing spots in the NFL?
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NFL Draft Projections: Daxton Hill’s potential landing spots
Hill offers an intriguing blend of youth, physical prowess, and football intelligence. The 23rd overall prospect on Pro Football Network’s Consensus Big Board, Hill won’t turn 22 years old until the end of September. He’s one of the younger players in this year’s class, which should be attractive to his NFL suitors.
At 6’0 1/4″ and 191 pounds, Hill has subpar size. However, he posted excellent numbers at the NFL Combine, including a 4.38 40-yard dash, a 4.06 shuttle, and a 6.57 three-cone. Those elite speed and agility grades contribute to Hill’s above-average 9.06 Relative Athletic Score.
Hill can line up as a deep safety, in the box, or in the slot. He’s an extremely intelligent player, and his adaptability will give NFL defensive coordinators plenty of options. The term “chess piece” is overused, but Hill truly is a movable asset that teams can deploy in any number of areas in the defensive backfield.
Hill is competing with Kyle Hamilton, Lewis Cine, and Jaquan Brisker at safety and Andrew Booth Jr., Kyler Gordon, and Roger McCreary as potential slot corners, but he’s expected to go in Round 1. Where are Hill’s best destinations in the NFL?
New Orleans Saints
Between C.J. Gardner-Johnson, P.J. Williams, and the recently retired Malcolm Jenkins, the Saints love their safety/cornerback hybrids. “The more you can do” seems to be the mantra in New Orleans, and with former defensive coordinator Dennis Allen now running the Saints’ show, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them take a defensive player at either 16 or 19.
New Orleans holds two first-round picks after executing an early-April trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, and they could be targeting a quarterback or left tackle over defensive help. Nevertheless, Hill would give the Saints a flexible resource in the back end. With Gardner-Johnson handling the slot and free agent addition Marcus Maye playing free safety, Hill would have plenty of opportunities to wreak havoc near the line of scrimmage.
Philadelphia Eagles
While many have projected the Eagles to select a linebacker with one of their two first-round picks, general manager Howie Roseman is too analytically inclined to follow that course of action. Instead, expect Philadelphia to target its other needs in Round 1, including cornerback, wide receiver, and safety.
Free safety Anthony Harris is back on a one-year deal, but the Eagles need to figure out who will be playing opposite him. Career special-teamer Marcus Epps was impressive on 505 defensive snaps in 2021. However, will Philadelphia trust him with a full-time job now that Rodney McLeod is gone? The Eagles already have Avonte Maddox playing the slot, so Hill would be free to roam the box.
Dallas Cowboys
Last season, the Cowboys ranked second in Football Outsiders’ pass defense DVOA, but defensive performance is fickle by nature. Even though coordinator Dan Quinn is returning for 2022, Dallas should expect some natural regression on the defensive side of the ball. After largely sitting out free agency, they’ll need to add reinforcements via the draft.
Hill could play a variety of roles for Quinn and the Cowboys. Damontae Kazee played free safety for Dallas in 2021, but given that he’s still on the free agent market, that spot is up for grabs. Hill would also represent an improvement over incumbent slot corner Jourdan Lewis, who allowed 9.0 yards per target and a 93.4 rating last year.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills are arguably the NFL’s most complete team following the free agent period. The most apparent hole on their roster is at CB2. Yet, if Booth, Trent McDuffie, and Kaiir Elam are all off the board when Buffalo picks at No. 25, they could take a forward-thinking approach and add Hill to their secondary.
At safety, Micah Hyde is 32 years old and under contract through the 2023 campaign. Jordan Poyer is 31, but he’ll be a free agent after the upcoming season. Smart teams fill needs before they become genuine problems, and Hill would make for an outstanding long-term replacement for either of Buffalo’s aging defensive backs. He’d serve as a valuable third safety and top slot backup in his rookie year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers signed veteran defensive back Logan Ryan this offseason, but it’s unclear exactly where he’ll line up. While he’s nominally a replacement for Jordan Whitehead, Ryan could also serve as competition for slot man Sean Murphy-Bunting. Ryan played outside corner earlier in his career, but he’s now a hybrid safety/slot CB. He’s essentially the 31-year-old version of Hill.
Adding Hill would give Tampa Bay one of the more malleable secondaries in the league. Hill could team up with Antoine Winfield Jr. in the back end, patrol the box, or play the slot when needed. With so many players capable of filling so many spots, new head coach Todd Bowles could throw endlessly diverse looks at opposing offenses.
