The Minnesota Vikings used the 30th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to select defensive back Mike Hughes out of the University of Central Florida.
With the 30th pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings selected cornerback Mike Hughes from the University of Central Florida, adding another defensive talent to their roster.
Measurements:
- 5-foot 11-inches
- 189 pounds
2017 Stats:
- 13 games played
- 37 solo tackles (49 combined tackles)
- 4 interceptions
- 11 passes defended
- 1 forced fumble
- 20 kick returns for 635 yards and 2 TDs
- 14 punt returns for 233 yards and 1 TD
Overview:
Hughes will be a bit of a polarizing prospect. His spotty history when it comes to off-field activities will scare some people, but there is no denying his ability on the football field to play at an extremely high level.
He took an unconventional route to the NFL after being dismissed from UNC and playing at Garden City Community College for a season before finally landing with UCF during the 2017 season.
UCF went undefeated during their campaign last year, with Hughes being a big part of their success, playing on defense and as a return man on special teams.
How Mike Hughes fits with the Vikings:
Selecting near the end of the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft is a tough spot. Many of the top prospects at many positions are off the board and it can be tough to fill team needs with top-tier players at that point.
However, the Vikings were able to bring a high-potential player at a position of need in with the 30th overall selection in the draft by adding Mike Hughes to their roster.
Minnesota Vikings
Hughes joins a stable of corners including Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander and has the opportunity to work his way up to being the team’s nickel or rotational corner after losing a couple players in free agency.
Heading into the draft, Marcus Sherels and Horace Richardson were set to be the team’s 4th and 5th cornerbacks, but using their first-round selection on Hughes allows more depth and competition at the position and a bit amount of talent to develop in Mike Zimmer’s defense.
While Hughes isn’t as tall as teams look for in a prototypical cornerback, he is a very physical cover player who can excel in bump and run coverage as well as be fearless when going up against taller or bigger competition.
This is a great fit for Minnesota and an excellent way for the team to kick off the 2018 NFL Draft. The sky is the limit for Hughes in a tough Vikings defense led by a coach who is known to get the best out of players.
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Congratulations to Mike Hughes on joining the Minnesota Vikings as the team’s selection in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft! He should immediately help the defense and compete for several spots on special teams while he learns and develops.