The Bengals unraveled defensively last season, squandering an All-Pro-caliber Joe Burrow season and an actual All-Pro campaign from Ja’Marr Chase. The team overhauled its defensive staff as a result, but at least one free agency piece from Lou Anarumo’s unit is staying.
Former trade acquisition B.J. Hill is rejoining the Bengals on a three-year, $33MM deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Hill will earn $16MM guaranteed as part of this agreement.
Monday’s agreement marks Hill’s second with the Bengals, who had benefited from their 2021 trade with the Giants in obtaining the former New York regular. Hill has started 50 games with the Bengals during his four-year Cincinnati stay. He previously secured a three-year, $30MM deal, having played a key role during the Bengals’ Super Bowl LVI season.
Hill fared better in 2023, having smashed his previous career high by posting 21 QB hits. The former Giants draftee has no other seasons with more than 12; he tallied nine in 2024. While Hill only added three sacks to his career total (23.5) last season, he also finished with a career-best seven tackles for loss. While little went right for the Bengals defensively in 2024, Hill showed enough to convince a new defensive staff he was worth bringing back at an eight-figure-per-year rate.
Cincinnati saw its Sheldon Rankins investment bust, amplifying Hill’s value. The team has also since agreed to terms with nose tackle TJ Slaton, who is on track to operate as a D.J. Reader nose tackle successor. The onus will be on Hill, then, to provide interior pressure, as Slaton is primarily a run defender. It remains to be seen — though it seems unlikely — if these two will play alongside Trey Hendrickson in 2025.