6 defensive tackles the Carolina Panthers should target in 2022 free agency
By Miles Ruder
Carolina Panthers should consider B.J. Hill
For the most part, this free-agent class for interior defensive linemen is filled with veterans or unproven raw prospects. However, B.J. Hill is one of the young, promising free agents that will receive plenty of attention in the coming weeks.
What makes Hill more enticing than other free agents is his dueling ability to be effective as a run stuffer and a pass rusher. In 2021, the 26-year-old generated eight tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hits, and a career-high seven sacks.
Hill was also responsible for the tipped pass interception against Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship that led to the tying score for the Cincinnati Bengals.
It would be hard to convince Hill to leave a team that just made the Super Bowl. But one scenario in which he would leave Cincinnati is if the Carolina Panthers made a convincing offer to have him play a larger role in the defense to be even more productive than he was with the Bengals.
Despite producing impressive numbers in Cincinnati, he hasn’t been a starter in the NFL since his rookie season. Since 2019, Hill has only started seven of 48 regular-season games.
If the Panthers let DaQuan Jones walk, the depth at the position is bleak, giving way for Hill to immediately impact the defense as a starter alongside Brown.