Former Vikings first-round pick is returning to the NFC North

Former Minnesota Vikings cornerback Mike Hughes is returning to the NFC North after signing a contract to play for the Detroit Lions.

In 2018, the Minnesota Vikings decided to use the No. 30 pick in the first round of the NFL Draft to select former UCF cornerback Mike Hughes. Minnesota was hoping that Hughes could help them get over the hump during the 2018 season after they fell one game short of the Super Bowl in 2017.

As a rookie, Hughes’ tenure with the Vikings got off to a great start with a pick-six in his very first regular-season game. Unfortunately, his first year in Minnesota was cut short when he tore his ACL in a Week 6 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

After that injury, Hughes was never really able to live up to his expectations with the Vikings, and they ended up trading him to the Kansas City Chiefs last year. Well, the former Minnesota corner is now back in the NFC North as a member of the Detroit Lions.

Former Minnesota Vikings CB Mike Hughes signs with the Detroit Lions

After spending the 2021 season with the Chiefs, Hughes hit free agency this year, and it didn’t take him very long to land a new home.

The former Vikings first-round draft pick signed with the Lions on Thursday, so he’s on track to face his old team twice during the 2022 campaign.

With Kansas City last year, Hughes appeared in all 17 games and he accumulated 47 tackles, six pass breakups, one interception, and four forced fumbles. When opposing quarterbacks targeted the 25-year-old cornerback last season, they completed 59 percent of their throws and had a 100.7 passer rating.

Hughes now joins a Detroit defense that ranked dead last in the NFL last year in net yards allowed per pass attempt and 24th in passing yards allowed. The Lions are hoping that the addition of Hughes can help a secondary that is in desperate need of improvement.