Vikings Training Camp 2020: Predicting the cornerback depth chart
By Chris Schad
Slot Cornerback
Mike Hughes
The slot corner may be considered a demotion for a player since many of us remember it being the No. 3 position on the depth chart in Madden. The Vikings use their slot cornerback regularly, however, and with experience and reps being an issue, the slot could be a perfect place to get Mike Hughes to live up to his first-round expectations.
Many fans still have the images of Amari Cooper destroying Hughes on national television last season, but Hughes showed a different level of effectiveness when he was placed in the slot. With a passer rating allowed that was 31 points lower in the slot, he was a better player and he might benefit with more time against quicker, faster receivers.
Like most of the players in Minnesota’s current group of corners, Hughes comes with a downside. The Central Florida product hasn’t been able to stay healthy during his two seasons in the league and after suffering a multi-ligament knee injury in his rookie year, he injured his neck toward the end of last season.
As a former first-round pick, the Vikings obviously saw something in Hughes that made them pass up several offensive guards who were on the board at the same time. After two years in the system, Minnesota needs to see something from him in Year 3. Otherwise, Hughes will fall behind a talented crop of players behind him.