Mackensie Alexander’s return to the Minnesota Vikings could spell the end of cornerback Mike Hughes’ time with the organization.
Just where the Minnesota Vikings struggled during the 2020 season was pretty obvious. Their defense was a far cry from the dominant units we’ve seen in previous years under head coach Mike Zimmer and fixing a once-proud area of the roster was going to be a top priority this offseason.
Despite having little in the way of salary-cap space available, the Vikings have done a tremendous job of moving money around, making sacrifices where needed, and picking up high-impact players on good deals. Another fine example of this came on Friday evening when Minnesota confirmed the return of another old face in the form of Mackensie Alexander.
The cornerback agreed to a vet minimum deal in order to secure a move back to a team where he thrived in 2019. Alexander was regarded as one of the league’s top slot coverage guys before taking his chances with the Cincinnati Bengals, even though the Vikings wanted to keep him around.
This was considered a weak link for Minnesota last season in spite of some encouraging displays from rookie duo Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler. However, considering the Vikings also brought in All-Pro Patrick Peterson, Zimmer now has four quality options that should bring around a stark turnaround in fortunes.
There is going to be an odd man out.
And that appears to be Mike Hughes.
The former first-round pick had a big opportunity to become the team’s No. 1 after Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Alexander all left last year. But poor play and another early trip to the reserve/injured list once again might be the last straw for the Vikings where Hughes is concerned.
Mike Hughes’ career with the Vikings
There was plenty of excitement when the Vikings selected Mike Hughes at No. 30 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Central Florida standout was considered as one of the top cornerback prospects entering the league that year and expectations rose significantly when the player managed to secure a pick-six in his first-ever game in a professional environment.
What came next was not what Hughes or Minnesota had in mind. In the 48 regular-season games since he was drafted, the player has been on the field for just 24 contests, starting seven.
This is down to a series of frustrating and sometimes long-term injuries that have undoubtedly derailed his progress considerably. It is a common tale in the NFL considering its violent nature and Hughes is just one of a long list of highly-touted college prospects who are now staring down the possibility of an early release from his contract.
The only true body of work we’ve seen from Hughes was in 2019 when he was part of the Vikings’ rotation alongside some established veterans. He gave up 61.2 percent of targets thrown his way and was awarded a 58.6 grade by Pro Football Focus, which isn’t exactly earth-shattering whichever way one looks at it.
Releasing Hughes one year ahead of schedule would save the Vikings around $1.17 million, according to Over the Cap. This isn’t the biggest financial sum in the world, but considering how little established players with proven production are signing for in the current climate, it might enable Minnesota to get in somebody else on a vet minimum deal before competitive action gets underway in 2021.
Although Mackensie Alexander’s arrival doesn’t guarantee the end for Hughes, it means the writing is on the wall in no uncertain terms.
Is Mackensie Alexander a better option?
If Mackensie Alexander can get back to the form of 2019 upon his return to familiar surroundings, then this represents a huge upgrade on Mike Hughes. He is far more reliable from a health perspective and even though there were reports claiming the player didn’t want to be seen a merely a slot cornerback, this is undoubtedly his best position.
Alexander will know that more than anybody. His familiarity with the set-up in Minnesota and the scheme run by Mike Zimmer should make for the easiest of transitions, even though the roster looks much different from the last time he was around.
This is the second ex-Vikings player to make a return on defense this offseason. Stephen Weatherly was also brought back after his release by the Carolina Panthers, where he failed to make a starting role his own and will now revert back to his rotational status that proved so fruitful in Minnesota.
Considering how cheap Alexander was, it was a no-brainer and pretty much dispels the myth of Zimmer’s culture being a problem where the Vikings are concerned. There are still a couple of holes that need to be filled across the roster, but with a bounty of NFL Draft picks in 2021, things look more promising than anyone expected.
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As for Hughes, if the corner is cut loose he can have no complaints. Had injuries not taken their toll, things might have been different, but considering what is at stake for Zimmer and the Minnesota Vikings next season waiting around on the off chance things get better is not an option.