Daxton Hill – Safety – 21 years – Junior – Michigan
Cut : 1m83
Weight : 87kg
Estimated draft position: 1er-2and round
Stats 2021: 69 tackles, 8 passes defended, 2 interceptions, a covered fumble.
NFL Comparison: Jimmie Ward
Strong points
– Incredible versatility
– As fast as physical
– Valuable responsiveness on the cover
It’s no longer really a secret, recent NFL prospects have become incredibly versatile and flexible, especially from a defensive point of view. But if the trend mainly concerned players from the front seven, this class is full of defensive backs with multiple missions. Daxton Hill has always been considered a phenomenon and a jack of all trades. Brother of the running back of the Baltimore Ravens, Justice, the one who has an initial formation of safety has scoured all the positions of the defensive backfield on the side of Michigan. Able to help out in the slot, as a corner or even in the box, Hill has athletic qualities that allow him to be quick but also responsive to the ball carrier. His slender physique is also deceptive because when the 21-year-old defender commits, he knows how to finish actions. Endowed with a good football IQ, Hill knows how to be respected in his sector by rarely missing tackles or pass defenses. This has allowed him to significantly increase his production in recent years in Michigan, despite an essentially hybrid role.
Weak points
– Sufficient size?
– Lieutenant or playmaker?
The questions that worry about Daxton Hill are mainly related to his projection during the draft. Because beyond his pure athletic qualities and his leadership, within a defense of Michigan qualified for the last playoffs, one is entitled to wonder if the person concerned would not have won to stay one more year. at college. The qualities are undeniable, but where can he play full time in the future. A role of box safety seems difficult to conceive given his relatively frail size for the position and his lack of landmarks in traffic. The free safety position seemed the most likely, but despite playing a good trigger, the Tulsa, Oklahoma native failed to punish opposing quarterbacks enough, with a total of four interceptions in 32 games played in the university. In this same idea, Hill must undoubtedly take a little more initiative and play a little more risky against the pass instead of generally ensuring in the role which has been predefined for him.
Possible destinations
New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions
Undoubtedly, Daxton Hill is a name that ranks relatively high on quite a few big franchise boards. Able to excel in many areas, the defender remains very or even overly disciplined but has incredible room for improvement. His role at the top echelon will be important to determine, but in increasingly tight backfields, especially on the inside, it will not be surprising to see him quickly integrate into the big leagues. His initial role should probably be a safety zone role, mainly in the slot, to take advantage of his responsiveness and his physique in the intermediate zones. Some do not exclude the possibility that he will become a corner later, if his size and his knowledge of the tackle play a little too much against him.
