From the sounds of it, nothing was going to stop a reunion between the Cincinnati Bengals and defensive tackle B.J. Hill in free agency.
Cincinnati hit Hill with a three-year extension worth $30 million in free agency, rewarding the breakout pass-rusher for a strong season after coming over via the Billy Price trade.
Hill later told the media that another team could’ve offered him more but he would’ve chosen the Bengals.
“My main goal was to come back here,” Hill said, according to ESPN’s Ben Baby.
Bengals brass made it clear Hill was always one of the priorities this offseason, too. He was something of an afterthought, at least publicly, in the Billy Price trade roughly a year ago. He erupted with six sacks, a 70.4 PFF grade and some key playoff moments next to D.J. Reader in the middle of the defense.
Soon to be just 26 years old, Hill is a critical piece moving forward and is again a big win for the defense in a league that places a huge premium on guys who can collapse pockets from the interior.
Getting Hill back probably won’t stop the Bengals from being interested in a reunion with Larry Ogunjobi after his injury saga — they need another pass-rusher to rotate with Hill still — but it’s clear all involved expected nothing less than Hill being back on a new deal for 2022 and beyond.
