Mike Hilton was kept around with a restricted free agent contract for 2020 because he fits so many different pieces to the puzzle that makes the Steelers' defense. His contract cost the Steelers $3.25 million against the salary cap and has been worth every penny.
In 2019, Hilton's 65 tackles was sixth most on the team and his eleven passes defensed were second-best on the roster, only behind Joe Haden's 17. Two weeks into the Steelers' 2020 season Hilton leads the team with two passes defensed, has the second most tackles with 13 and the second most sacks with 2.0.
He showed how he could succeed at every level of the Steelers' defense Sunday when they beat the Broncos 26-21 at Heinz Field. His eight tackles led the team while he had two tackles for loss, including a sack, and one of the Steelers' six passes defensed on the day.
Making open-field tackles is one thing, but Hilton was taking on blockers in the box and winning against the Broncos. On his tackle for loss of Melvin Gordon, Hilton played like he was an outside linebacker. Watch how he not only flies into the box to engage former Steelers tight end Nick Vannett, but uses his hands to shove Vannett back and establish the terms of engagement.
Once he's in control, he uses quick and choppy feet to move around and establish the edge to turn Gordon back inside and eventually make the tackle. What's crazy that Hilton controls the point of attack here is that Vannett has nine inches and almost a full 80 lbs. advantage over Hilton, yet the play still gets blown up:
Hilton usually makes his big plays with amazing timing on the snap combined with a quick burst to slice into backfields and blow up plays. That timing can make it very hard for young quarterbacks to see him coming, which is something we've seen in back to back weeks with second-year quarterback Daniel Jones for the Giants, and third-year backup quarterback Jeff Driskel for the Broncos.
Hilton knows how to not tip his hand until the last second, making it very easy to miss him when doing checks at the line of scrimmage when you're a quarterback going over last second calls before the snap. Watch how Hilton comes in untouched on a weak side blitz next to rookie Alex Highsmith and knifes his way into the pocket to bring down Driskel.
Not only is Hilton's timing and quickness notable, but his pursuit angle is textbook. Driskel isn't the most mobile of quarterbacks, but Hilton still has his helmet and pads pointed at Driskel's back shoulder in pursuit. That angle puts Hilton in position to both be prepared if Driskel tries to spin out the sack, or forces him up in the pocket to where the Steelers expect Cam Heyward, Tyson Alualu or Stephon Tuitt to win:
But of course, Hilton couldn't be a good slot cornerback if he couldn't cover. It's not his specialty, but he can still run with receivers and apply fundamentals that make him a tough competitor and force accurate passes into tight passing windows if quarterbacks want to throw it by him.
Check out this play where he lined up in the slot and wound up in single coverage in a deep pattern against first round pick and former Alabama superstar receiver, Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy ran a 4.45 time in the 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine and blazed his way for 2,478 yards and 24 touchdowns in his final two collegiate seasons.
The Broncos had to see Jeudy against Hilton as a mismatch they wanted to exploit, but Hilton uses good position in coverage to never give Jeudy a chance to get behind him. Once the ball is in the air, Hilton finds it and swats it away to end the deep threat:
Hilton isn't the biggest player or the biggest name on the Steelers' defense, but he is one of the pieces to what they like to do that's unique. No other player that lines up in the box as frequently as Hilton does will be asked to cover deep down the field or run with receivers regularly the way Hilton does.
Terrell Edmunds may get to that point soon, but there's no rush in 2020 with Hilton's instincts and history with the team. 2020 is Hilton's fourth season with the team and he's only missed one game in that time. Whether he's back in 2021 is a question too far down the line to answer right now, but if he continues being a playmaker at the pace he's on through two games, he'll make a strong case for Kevin Colbert to find a way to keep him, or to be a target for a good contract in free agency.