BREAKING: Falcons Sign Ex Lions CB Mike Hughes in Free Agency
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.
You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Falcons? Click Here.
Follow Falcon Report on Twitter.
Want even more Atlanta Falcons news? Check out the SI.com team page here
