CINCINNATI BENGALS

Round 1 (No. 31 overall) – Daxton Hill, S, Michigan: Director of player personnel Duke Tobin recently said the AFC champs didn’t need any starters, and Hill might sub in behind established players like S Jessie Bates and nickelback Mike Hilton. Hill’s 4.38-second 40-yard-dash speed is an asset from the slot, box or center field and probably ensures his snap count steadily increases over the course of his rookie year. And with Bates on the franchise tag, Hill could take his spot permanently in a year.

Round 2 (60, from Buccaneers through Bills) – Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska: He is 5-11 and 196 pounds with 4.38 speed and might challenge Eli Apple for snaps at corner for the AFC champs. Taylor-Britt had 11 PBUs in 2021.

Round 3 (95) – Zachary Carter, DT, Florida: At 6-4, 282 pounds, he could be an interior rusher on passing downs between Cincinnati DEs Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard.

Round 4 (136) – Cordell Volson, OT, North Dakota State

Round 5 (166, from Cardinals through Eagles and Texans and Bears) – Tycen Anderson, S, Toledo

Round 7 (252) – Jeffrey Gunter, LB, Coastal Carolina

Grade: B

They so thoroughly revamped their offensive line during free agency, the Bengals didn’t draft a blocker (Volson) until Round 4. First-round DB Hill is a versatile player who should contribute early and might replace free safety Jessie Bates III in a year if the franchise-tagged standout doesn’t get extended. Yet you wonder if the AFC champs, who admittedly didn’t have any needs in their starting lineup, should’ve spun some of those picks forward into 2023.

KAREEM ELGAZZAR/ THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Daxton Hill, a safety, was the 31st pick of the first round.