By Anthony Licciardi
Unequivocally, the worst part of summer is dealing with all the insects. Stink bugs on the window, ants in the kitchen, spiders chilling in the corner of the bathroom. Frankly it’s nasty, and I’m dreadful just thinking about it.
Then comes the fall, when you get to watch your favorite team play that division rival’s mercenary who always seems to have a big game twice a year. A pest in their own right, making life difficult and living in the back of your mind, even if it’s not dominating your headspace.
The AFC North thought they saw the last of Mike Hilton when he left the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. Unfortunately for them, he’s now the X-Factor of the Cincinnati Bengals defense.
Mike Hilton’s presence will be more than necessary.
Hilton has made a living as a slot corner, primarily playing close to the line of scrimmage. He’s a nuisance in the run game and versatile enough to be an effective blitzer, too.
Of course, as a cornerback he’s forced to take on hefty coverage responsibilities, and he’s taken wonderfully to the task. Few inside guys are as effective as Hilton when it comes to matching up with slot receivers, who vacation inside in an attempt to hide from elite boundary corners.
Hilton has historically held up well in a variety of coverage roles, and when asked to lock down guys like Cooper Kupp, he’s gotten the job done. Just like that centipede in the basement, Hilton makes his presence felt, no matter how much you don’t want to see it. You won’t find many openly admitting to being scared of the defensive back, but no one looks forward to his date on the calendar.
Moreover, his role on that Bengals defense is paramount given recent circumstances. Star safety Jessie Bates III may not play after receiving the franchise tag. Not so patiently awaiting his extension, there’s no guarantee Bates sees the field as a Bengal again (and good for him, he deserves it).
Taking away an elite safety on the back end is only going to leave Cincinnati more vulnerable to vertical offenses and dynamic receivers. If they do end up getting funneled inside, it will be Hilton’s job to ensure Bates’ absence isn’t noticed.
Per FanDuel, the reigning AFC champions are +2000 to win the Super Bowl. Maybe those odds change with Bates’ fate as we near the regular season, but for now, it’ll be on Hilton to make that bet worth its while.