If there’s any one player on the New York Giants that isn’t talked about enough, it’s defensive lineman, B.J. Hill. Drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Hill wasn’t expected to make the impact he did for the Giants in his rookie season.
There’s hope that he can take a big developmental jump in his second season as a professional. The underlying fact is that Hill is dominant in the trenches – he secured three sacks against a solid Chicago Bears team last year. While he was inconsistent, he showed flashes of immense potential throughout his first campaign in the NFL.
If he can establish consistency and dominate on a weekly basis, there’s no question he could develop into an unsung hero for Big Blue on the defensive front.
The New York Giants are putting a lot of trust in their youth:
Currently, the team is rolling with questionable talent, especially in the pass-rush department. They’re betting heavily on their 2018 draft picks to make a major jump.
Outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter and defensive linemen Hill and RJ McIntosh will be expected to produce in 2019. However, GM Dave Gettleman didn’t completely ignore the unit, drafting big interior lineman Dexter Lawrence to clog up the middle of the trench and allow Hill to expose the boundary in a pass-rush sense.
Hill’s numbers are solid for a mid-round pick in his first season. He earned 32 solo tackles, 48 combined, 6 tackles for a loss, 8 QB hits, and 2 passes defended (Pro Football Reference). Let’s not forget his 5.5 sacks to go with it all.
With a year of development under his belt, B.J. has the tools to elevate his game and become a true force on the line.
I’m excited to see what he can do with additional resources around him. With the Giants featuring a 3-4 scheme, I imagine they take a rotation approach with the three down lineman. However, I think Hill has the ability to be a three-down player that can rush the passer and be a force in stopping the run.