.jpg)
In this series, we will analyze one Patriots’ draft prospect each week leading up the the 2018 NFL Draft on April 26th. This week, we turn our focus to UCF cornerback Mike Hughes.
Player: Mike Hughes (CB), UCF
Measurables:
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 189
40 Yard Dash: 4.53
Vertical: 35.5”
Summary:
Following the offseason departure of Malcolm Butler, the Patriots have a clear need at the cornerback position. Although Jason McCourty will add a nice veteran presence to the cornerback position, he is better suited as a slot corner than as a starter on the outside. The Patriots are set with Stephon Gilmore, but he is in desperate need of a talented running mate.
Enter Mike Hughes: The UCF product is a bit of a project given his limited college experience, but in his small playing window he has displayed the kind of twitch and ball skills necessary to succeed at a high level in the NFL. Hughes is physical in press-man and great at tackling. This versatile skill set will allow him to succeed both in man and zone coverage packages, which is absolutely necessary for his success as a Patriot.
In an NFL that favors receivers and the passing game, ball skills are paramount for a cornerback, since attacking the ball is sometimes the only way to avoid a pass interference call, and Hughes excels in this area.
The bottom line is that Hughes has the tenacity, versatility, and ball skills necessary to develop into a special NFL cornerback who could be paired with Stephon Gilmore to form a talented duo capable of holding down the back end of the Patriots’ defense for years to come. The Patriots could target Hughes as early as the 31st pick and as late as their second pick in the second round.
Comments