Summary

B.J. Hill was selected in Round 3 (#69 Overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft out of the North Carolina State University. With the Wolfpack, Hill totaled 176 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks earning Second-Team All-ACC honors (2017) and building a reputation as a high-effort, scheme-versatile defensive lineman. Hill was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals prior to the 2019 season, where he quickly became a foundational piece of their defensive front. Through the 2024 season, he has recorded 350+ career tackles, 20+ sacks, 50+ tackles for loss, and strong interior pressure metrics while playing a key role in Cincinnati’s Super Bowl LVI appearance. Hill is widely regarded as a high-character, durable, and team-first professional, respected for his toughness, consistency, and willingness to do unglamorous work inside while anchoring the run defense.

Strengths

• Interior Power: Strong, stout defender who holds ground and generates push inside. Plays hard snap-to-snap; pursues plays down the line.

• Run Defense Consistency: Effective at clogging lanes, anchoring against double teams, and maintaining gap integrity. Executes assignments; rarely freelances out of structure.

• Versatility: Can align as a 3-technique or 1-technique depending on front and down. Reliable availability with good stamina and handles heavy snap counts without decline.

• Pass-Rush Push: Collapses the pocket with power and effective bull rush against guards. Strong grip and punch help control blockers.

Weaknesses

• Explosiveness: Lacks elite first-step burst compared to top interior rushers. Upright rusher who does not consistently corner or slip blocks.

• Pass-Rush Arsenal: Limited counter-move variety and relies heavily on power.

• Takeover Ability: More steady than dominant; not a consistent game-wrecker. Pressures do not always convert into sacks.

• Top-End Ceiling: Athletic traits cap elite upside compared to premier interior defenders.

Outlook

Hill is best suited for physical, disciplined defensive schemes that emphasize interior strength, run defense, and pocket integrity. He thrives in one-gap or hybrid fronts where he can attack forward, collapse the pocket, and occupy blockers to free edge rushers and linebackers. His reliability and durability make him especially valuable in defenses that rotate interior linemen but still require consistent snap-to-snap execution. Hill continues to project as a solid starting-caliber interior defensive lineman with a high floor and dependable production. While he may not be a double-digit sack threat, his ability to anchor the run, generate interior push, and play winning football in postseason environments gives him strong long-term value. Hill profiles as a reliable, tone-setting interior presence who enhances defensive line cohesion and provides stability for competitive defenses.