The Cornerback Conundrum

[VikingLord]

If he's done why is he still on the team?

Depth? Special teams? Who knows. They didn’t pick up his option. They grabbed two free agent corners. The writing is on the wall. 24 games and 3 years is a decent body of work to make an evaluation. The team usually keeps 6 corners and maybe he’ll be one. He’s still done from the aspect that he’s a first round bust.

The writing is on the wall that they can't count on Hughes remaining healthy for a full season, which is likely why they didn't pick up his option.

But let me ask you this: if Hughes shows up this season, wins the starting CB job outright, stays healthy and has a great season, would you still consider him a 1st round bust?

That might not be likely, but it is possible. Shouldn't we wait to label him a bust until we see how at least this year goes for him?

[S197]

Depth? Special teams? Who knows. They didn’t pick up his option. They grabbed two free agent corners. The writing is on the wall. 24 games and 3 years is a decent body of work to make an evaluation. The team usually keeps 6 corners and maybe he’ll be one. He’s still done from the aspect that he’s a first round bust.

The writing is on the wall that they can't count on Hughes remaining healthy for a full season, which is likely why they didn't pick up his option.

But let me ask you this: if Hughes shows up this season, wins the starting CB job outright, stays healthy and has a great season, would you still consider him a 1st round bust?

That might not be likely, but it is possible. Shouldn't we wait to label him a bust until we see how at least this year goes for him?

No. And here’s why. We badly needed a guard 4 years ago, much more than Hughes. We still need a guard, two actually. So he’s effectively solved none of our issues, just exacerbated them. Moreover, we spent a 1st and 3rd on corners last year because he couldn’t be counted on. Even on the rare chance he has a good year, he has set the team back and caused extra allocation of high draft capital to the position.

While it would be nice to get some production out of the pick, the impacts of his play (or lack thereof) over the last 3 years cannot be ignored. One year should not be looked at in a vacuum.

[CharVike]

The writing is on the wall that they can't count on Hughes remaining healthy for a full season, which is likely why they didn't pick up his option.

But let me ask you this: if Hughes shows up this season, wins the starting CB job outright, stays healthy and has a great season, would you still consider him a 1st round bust?

That might not be likely, but it is possible. Shouldn't we wait to label him a bust until we see how at least this year goes for him?

No. And here’s why. We badly needed a guard 4 years ago, much more than Hughes. We still need a guard, two actually. So he’s effectively solved none of our issues, just exacerbated them. Moreover, we spent a 1st and 3rd on corners last year because he couldn’t be counted on. Even on the rare chance he has a good year, he has set the team back and caused extra allocation of high draft capital to the position.

While it would be nice to get some production out of the pick, the impacts of his play (or lack thereof) over the last 3 years cannot be ignored. One year should not be looked at in a vacuum.

The focus from many has been the offensive problems with this team. We could have signed that G that Bill B didn't but that would have been the only significant signing in FA. Once we got into a bidding war the cost goes to 18M+. I don't see how that pushes this O much beyond were we are at. So then the Vet CB couldn't be signed or the DT. So our D will remain one of the worst we have ever put on the field. At that point forget about a wild card challenge.
Hughes did play his rookie year in week 1 so he was needed as shown below. He was not inactive or 5th string.
Hughes returned an interception for a touchdown, had three total tackles and defended three passes in Sunday's win over the 49ers.
Hughes was quickly pressed into a larger role in his first NFL game after Trae Waynes left with an ankle injury. Hughes moved to cornerback from slot cornerback and held his own in coverage, including returning a gift bad throw for a touchdown. Hughes could start at cornerback if Waynes is out next week.
I thought we had a play maker. It's been down hill ever since for him and he's probably done.
There's other Gs in FA but some have pointed out they are coming of injury or other problems. You can get players in FA but it's still a roll of the dice. And the guys that get interest are highly over paid.
But yes they will draft some OL guys. They have plenty of picks. Nothing premo but 3rd and 4th round guys.

[VikingLord]

The writing is on the wall that they can't count on Hughes remaining healthy for a full season, which is likely why they didn't pick up his option.

But let me ask you this: if Hughes shows up this season, wins the starting CB job outright, stays healthy and has a great season, would you still consider him a 1st round bust?

That might not be likely, but it is possible. Shouldn't we wait to label him a bust until we see how at least this year goes for him?

No. And here’s why. We badly needed a guard 4 years ago, much more than Hughes. We still need a guard, two actually. So he’s effectively solved none of our issues, just exacerbated them. Moreover, we spent a 1st and 3rd on corners last year because he couldn’t be counted on. Even on the rare chance he has a good year, he has set the team back and caused extra allocation of high draft capital to the position.

While it would be nice to get some production out of the pick, the impacts of his play (or lack thereof) over the last 3 years cannot be ignored. One year should not be looked at in a vacuum.

The choice to take Hughes in the draft is on Spielman and Zimmer, so if you don't agree with the pick, that's on those two and not Hughes.

[CharVike]

No. And here’s why. We badly needed a guard 4 years ago, much more than Hughes. We still need a guard, two actually. So he’s effectively solved none of our issues, just exacerbated them. Moreover, we spent a 1st and 3rd on corners last year because he couldn’t be counted on. Even on the rare chance he has a good year, he has set the team back and caused extra allocation of high draft capital to the position.

While it would be nice to get some production out of the pick, the impacts of his play (or lack thereof) over the last 3 years cannot be ignored. One year should not be looked at in a vacuum.

The choice to take Hughes in the draft is on Spielman and Zimmer, so if you don't agree with the pick, that's on those two and not Hughes.

Many teams use 3 WRs as there base set. All teams use it through out the game to some degree. As a starting point you need 3 guys just to cover the base. You can't afford 3 All pros but you can't put a bunch of stiffs out there either. Plus you need a guy that can at least give decent play as a backup because he will be needed. Denny Green would do the complete opposite. Have anybody play CB even using WRs. This might seem stupid that they spent so much on CB with draft capital and FA but watch WRs playing CB. I'd rather use the picks. They won't all pan out that doesn't happen for any team. We lost a guy like Waynes because the Bengals over paid big time. Waynes has limited ball skills. We weren't willing to lay the CAP cost out for that type of player. The guys we have now I don't see a one on one lock down guy like a young Rhodes. There's work to be done still.

[S197]

No. And here’s why. We badly needed a guard 4 years ago, much more than Hughes. We still need a guard, two actually. So he’s effectively solved none of our issues, just exacerbated them. Moreover, we spent a 1st and 3rd on corners last year because he couldn’t be counted on. Even on the rare chance he has a good year, he has set the team back and caused extra allocation of high draft capital to the position.

While it would be nice to get some production out of the pick, the impacts of his play (or lack thereof) over the last 3 years cannot be ignored. One year should not be looked at in a vacuum.

The choice to take Hughes in the draft is on Spielman and Zimmer, so if you don't agree with the pick, that's on those two and not Hughes.

That much is obvious but I don't see how it impacts your question. Hughes is a bust because the ROI on 75% of his contract, at minimum, was lousy. In the same sense a kid bringing home 3 "F's" and 1 "A" isn't going to be applauded by his parents.

There are minimum expectations of a 1st round pick, and one good year, which is unlikely, doesn't reach that bar.

[Punkoholic]

https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/rep ... c-violence

[Spot & Stalk Vike]

https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/rep ... c-violence

The offseason is a young mans worst enemy, too much time on their young hands leads to trouble

[FullWood]

oh man I had high hopes for Jeff Gladney and this defense. He really looked good if convicted he may never play in the nfl again.

[StumpHunter]

He was our 4th CB so not a big hit to the team.

Cut him and move on.

[Maelstrom88]

Wow another 1st round cornerback bust if Gladney is guilty.

[VikingPaul73]

I'm a firm believer in due process, innocent until proven guilty. But wow that sounds really bad. If he is guilty, just cut him and move on.

[makila]

Ooooof does not sound good. Innocent to proven guilty. Man though... if true cut and move on.

Gary Patterson program... *sigh*
(big 12 person i have a slanted view on him and his program, haha)

[S197]

He was our 4th CB so not a big hit to the team.

Cut him and move on.

Yeah he was only our 1st round pick, no biggie.

[StumpHunter]

He was our 4th CB so not a big hit to the team.

Cut him and move on.

Yeah he was only our 1st round pick, no biggie.

Our 1st round pick being a backup in his 2nd year was the blow to the team. This is just escalating the inevitable.