CB Mike Hilton leaves Steelers for contract with Bengals

Mike Hilton is leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he’s staying in the AFC North.

Hilton, the 5-foot-9 slot cornerback who was a regular member of the Steelers secondary the past four seasons, agreed to a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, according to ESPN and NFL Network reports.

The deal is for a reported $24 million over four years, with Hilton getting $8.5 million in 2021.

By joining the Bengals, Hilton will be going from first to worst in the division. The Bengals have finished last in the division three years in a row and have a combined 19-44-1 record since Hilton entered the NFL in 2017. The Steelers, meanwhile, were 42-21-1 in that span.

I just want to say thank you to the @steelers organization. Gave a undrafted kid a chance to live his dream! I’m forever grateful for the opportunity! ??

— Mike Hilton (@MikeHilton_28) March 16, 2021

A former undrafted free agent, Hilton played last year as a restricted free agent and earned $3.259 million. Since emerging as the team’s slot corner in 2017, Hilton had hoped to parlay his playing time into a long-term contract extension with the Steelers and hired mega-agent Drew Rosenhaus in 2018.

The two sides never did agree to anything more than a one-year deal, and the Steelers allowed Hilton to test free agency this offseason.

Hilton started six of 12 games he played last season, missing four games mid-season with a shoulder injury. He totaled 51 tackles, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and a career-high three interceptions.

Since entering the NFL in 2017, Hilton has ranked second among defensive backs with 30 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and 23 quarterback hits. He made 20 starts while playing in 59 games for the Steelers.

Hilton’s decision to join the Bengals comes one day after the Steelers retained free-agent cornerback Cameron Sutton on a two-year, $9 million contract. He is a candidate to replace Hilton in the slot.