The Detroit Lions are chasing a championship in 2025 but some of their former players will be hoping to just hang onto their job. There are many players that have left the Motor City as the Lions have become an NFC powerhouse and while some have found more playing time, it hasn’t led to more success on the field.
This is the case for one former Lions defender who spent just one season in Detroit. While he’s found a long-term home in the late stages of his career, his current team could be putting him in a position to let the team down this season.
Former Lions CB Mike Hughes Could Play More Slot for Falcons in 2025
Mike Hughes’s career has been a whirlwind since he was selected with the 30th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. The UCF product began his career with the Minnesota Vikings, but a multi-ligament knee injury and neck injuries eventually got him traded to the Kansas City Chiefs after the 2020 season.
Hughes made a pit stop in Detroit in 2022 but signed with the Atlanta Falcons the following offseason and earned a starting role last year. But while he had an admirable performance, allowing 39 catches for 405 yards and a pair of touchdowns with four pass breakups on 58 targets, the Falcons are hoping to get more out of him by occasionally moving him to the slot.
“It’s been mostly outside, but you know, whatever they want me to do, I’m always willing to help the team,” Hughes told SI’s Arkesh Ray during minicamp. “You know, I got some familiarity in that position, so whether they want to throw me in there or not, it’s whatever they think is best for the team, and I’m willing to do it.”
Hughes has the right attitude about being more versatile in his role. But it may not put him in a position to succeed. The 28-year-old has played 466 coverage snaps during his career but played just one last season. Even more troublesome is that Hughes has allowed 1.5 yards per coverage snap in the slot over his career, which would have been the ninth-highest rate among qualifiers last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
While his last extended action in the slot resulted in 0.71 yards per slot coverage snap in 2023, it may be too much to ask to have him play in that role, even with the signing of former Browns cornerback Mike Ford Jr.
The Falcons may have already realized their mistake, drafting slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. in the fourth round of April’s draft and signing UDFA Cobee Bryant. For Hughes, it also would be wise to focus on one position as he has just three interceptions in his career and hasn’t grabbed one since 2021.
It could lead to another disappointing season for the former Lion and keep the Falcons from competing in 2025.