3 surprise cuts the Vikings could make this offseason

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 06: Linebacker Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates a Safety against the New York Giants during the second half at MetLife Stadium on October 06, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images) /

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2. CB Mike Hughes

Minnesota’s first-round pick in 2018, Hughes has ended each of his three NFL seasons on IR. Last season, he aggravated a neck injury that ended his 2019 campaign and didn’t play after Week 6 (four games). In 2018, it was a torn ACL that ended his season after six games. All told, he has delivered two interceptions in 24 regular-season games (915 defensive snaps).

Hughes should be good to go for next season, but history tells us neck injuries are nothing to take lightly. And truly, his largest sample of play (14 games in 2019) was good but not great as opponents were not afraid to target him. If he weren’t a first-round pick, he’d be in clear line to be cut this offseason (as long as he can pass a physical).

Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler should have an opportunity to bump Hughes down the depth chart, if they’re not there already, and the draft most specifically may yield some options to add to the secondary. Hughes simply can’t be counted on.

The decision to cut Hughes would not be financial for the Vikings. They would only clear $1.17 million of his $3.14 million cap hit by doing so, with the rest left in dead money. But the idea could be somewhere on the radar, and that alone makes Hughes a possible surprise cut.

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