NFL.com names the Cincinnati Bengals' most underappreciated player
NFL.com's Cynthia Frelund, an analytics expert, recently named the most underappreciated team on each AFC roster. Frelund used various metrics and calculations, combined with players' salaries, to determine which player was the most underappreciated on each team. For the Cincinnati Bengals, that player is cornerback Mike Hilton. From NFL.com: Computer vision shows that in his […]
NFL.com's Cynthia Frelund, an analytics expert, recently named the most underappreciated team on each AFC roster.
Frelund used various metrics and calculations, combined with players' salaries, to determine which player was the most underappreciated on each team.
For the Cincinnati Bengals, that player is cornerback Mike Hilton.
From NFL.com:
Computer vision shows that in his first 10 games as a Bengal, he allowed a passer rating of 83.0 in coverage (that is, when he was within 3 yards of the nearest target at the time the ball arrived). Over his last 10 games (including playoffs), that number reduced to just 61.2. NGS shows that when he was the nearest defender in 2021, he allowed a 72.0 completion percentage in the regular season (+4.3 percent completion over expected) but only a 66.7 completion percentage (-5.2 percent CPOE) in the playoffs.
Hilton is a former Ole Miss standout who went undrafted in 2016. He spent five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before signing a four-year deal with the Bengals before the 2021 season.
This past season, Hilton played in all 17 games for Cincinnati. He finished the season with 66 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions, and one defensive touchdown.
Hilton isn't a player that's on the Pro-Bowl radar, but he's clearly essential to the Bengals' success. Players like Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Trey Hendrickson get all of the headlines. Guys like Hilton, however, are absolutely vital to Cincinnati's Super Bowl aspirations.
Featured image via Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
