2022 NFL Draft profile: Michigan safety Daxton Hill

Michigan football has had a fair amount of five-star talent come through the program during its storied history. Sometimes they pan out, other times it busts and goes the other way. Defensive back Daxton Hill is the former and will be using his strong three-year run in Ann Arbor as a leaping point into the NFL.

Hill, who On3’s Consensus rated a five-star-plus safety coming out of high school, was the No. 8 overall player in the 2019 recruiting cycle. After flipping his recruitment to Alabama, he flipped back to Michigan on signing day, giving the Wolverines a blue-chip talent to build the secondary around.

Hill appeared in 33 career games at Michigan with 23 starts playing multiple roles in the secondary. He also contributed on special teams. He was an All-Big Ten honoree in 2021, racking up 69 tackles (4.5 for loss), 0.5 sacks, 11 passes defended, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

Here is a look at what the uber-athletic safety will bring to the NFL.

Daxton Hill’s info

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 191 pounds

School: Michigan

Position: Safety

Projected: 1st-2nd round

NFL Combine/Pro Day results: 4.38 40-yard dash | 37-inch vertical jump | 10-foot-2-inch broad jump | 4.06 20-yard shuttle | 6.57 3-cone drill

Strengths

Hill is a tremendous athlete and has both long speed and the ability to move quickly in short areas. The range he displays is impressive and he has the ability to be a sideline-to-sideline defender. Versatility is also one of his biggest strengths. There were times at Michigan where he was asked to play single-high safety, boundary corner, nickel and some packages at dime linebacker. In a league of matchups and chess pieces, Hill can handle whatever is thrown at him. His read and react abilities are an asset and he was a frequent screen-buster in Ann Arbor. Closing speed is also impressive and he is quick to diagnose a run play and fill properly. Despite a finesse skillset, Hill is not afraid to mix it up and is a competitor on the field.

Weaknesses

Hill was good in a lot of areas at Michigan, but never quite developed one thing he was known for. His playmaking ability leaves a bit to be desired with only four picks in three seasons in college. His ball skills are still good. Production does not tell the whole story. Michigan put so much on his plate that at times, he looked a bit tentative. For as explosive an athlete as he is, he could be a little more disruptive as a tackler. Hill was caught overpursuing and his aggressiveness can be used against him. He is a little undersized to play too much in the box in the NFL and could be prone to bigger, more physical playmakers running through him.

Daxton Hill overview

Some will look at the stat sheet and wonder why Hill was not more productive at Michigan. When looking back on it – and when front offices put on the film – his stock has risen this offseason. Safeties that are as athletic as he is and fit the run as well as he does do not grow on trees. He has a shot to be a versatile defender on the backend of a defense for a long time.

It is positive that Hill can handle as much as Michigan threw his way, but he would benefit from a more tailored role in the NFL. Given his position, he is inherently going to have a wide array of responsibilities. Some of his struggles at Michigan seemed to come when he was overwhelmed. He can handle it, but thriving in a specific area or two would be beneficial to him.

Hill was Michigan’s sixth-ranked defensive starter last season, which might look underwhelming on paper. He was good across the board, posting a defensive grade of 77.6 (76.8 in run defense, 74.7 in tackling, 77.8 as a pass rusher and 73.8 in coverage). He was rock solid and a positive in a ton of areas.

Should Hill come off the board in the first round, it likely will be to a playoff team. He has everything in his toolbox to be a plus defender at the next level. The clock on him seems to be starting around the No. 20 overall pick. If he lasts into the second round, one would think he would be one of the first players off the board. He has a legitimate case for No. 2-ranked safety behind Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton.