FINALLY: Steelers have done CB Trade With Bengals.
Pittsburgh — The Pittsburgh Steelers have not been afraid to be proactive this offseason. To date, they’ve traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson and quarterback Kenny Pickett, acquired Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears, and signed Russell Wilson, Patrick Queen, and DeShon Elliott, all of which made huge headlines due to the size of the transactions.
Maybe they aren’t finished. Right now, reports circulate that the Steelers are hunting for wide receivers, with Brandon Aiyuk leading the way. However, if San Francisco and Pittsburgh cannot reach an agreement, the Steelers may seek elsewhere for additional resources. It will not be for a wide receiver, but a defensive back could be a good fit for this team.
The Bengals drafted defensive back Dax Hill in the first round two years ago. Since then, he has been demoted for not working out at the safety position, leading the organization to sign Geno Stone and Vonn Bell. Cincinnati notified him that they would go elsewhere; now the question is where he will play in 2024.
“I appreciate that, just having that conversation before things turned out and just hearing them out on why they did the things they did,” Hill told the members of the team. “Whatever happened, I can’t control it. I’ll just put my best foot forward… I’m not too concerned about what’s to come. I’ve been through so much in the first two years that nothing surprises me.
“We’ll see how things go, but everything is kind of up in the air; we’ll see what happens and take it from there. Whatever they want of me, I will do it. But, whichever position I end up in, I intend to give it my all.”
Cincinnati still has Mike Hilton under contract, which eliminates the need for a slot cornerback. Hill played two positions in college, but he doesn’t exactly fit in with the Bengals’ defense.
Meanwhile, he would easily fit into Pittsburgh’s.
The Steelers need a slot cornerback. Hill delivers that with lots of upside and is unlikely to cost an arm and a leg given his reduced role in Cincinnati. If he’s searching for a chance and the Bengals are looking for a price before deciding they don’t have a place for him, why wouldn’t a trade work?
The Steelers have made in-division transactions before. A Tee Higgins splash may be out of the question, but Hill is sliding enough that Cincinnati is ready to take a chance.
With two years left on his rookie deal and the potential of a fifth-year option, Hill is worth a move for a Day 2 or lower pick. And if the Steelers feel Cincinnati would even consider it, they should – and could – make a call.
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