Falcon Report

BREAKING: Falcons Sign Ex Lions CB Mike Hughes in Free Agency

Mike Hughes was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings when Atlanta Falcons assistant head coach Jerry Gray was in the Twin Cities - and the two are now set to reunite.

Jeremy Brener

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Since signing safety Jessie Bates III, the Atlanta Falcons have been quiet in the defensive backfield - but changed that Monday night.

According to ESPN, the Falcons have signed cornerback Mike Hughes to a two-year contract.

Hughes, a 2018 first-round pick, spent his first three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before playing for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021 and the Detroit Lions in 2022.

When Hughes was drafted, current Falcons assistant head coach Jerry Gray was in charge of the defensive backs. That relationship could be a major part of why the Falcons are bringing in Hughes.

While Hughes hasn't quite lived up to his first-round pick status out of UCF, he can provide depth for the Falcons secondary.

Atlanta is set to start A.J. Terrell and Casey Hayward, but after losing Isaiah Oliver in free agency to the San Francisco 49ers, the team needs someone to compete alongside Dee Alford and Darren Hall for the backup job.

There's also a good chance the Falcons add a cornerback or two in next month's NFL Draft, but adding Hughes gives the team a veteran familiar with one of the most important new members on the staff.

Atlanta has been consistent in signing players with ties to Ryan Nielsen, bringing in linebacker Kaden Elliss and defensive tackle David Onyemata, so bringing Hughes into the fold aligns with that school of thought.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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