01-17-2019, 04:58 PM
He had projected as high as a fourth-round pick, but dropped out of the draft because of off-field issues. Hill was suspended by the Longhorn program and reportedly failed a drug test at the NFL Combine. The 6-foot-2 cornerback joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent, unsure if he would win the final cornerback spot on the roster.
Now with 16 games and three starts under his belt Hill has put himself in position for more playing time next year. In 213 coverage snaps, Hill allowed just 16 catches on 31 targets and a 67.0 quarterback rating against. Meanwhile all the 2018 seventh-round picks combined started two games.
His solid debut season puts the Vikings in an interesting spot.
Between proven starters Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes alone, the Vikings are set to spend around $22.5 million in cap space in 2019, according to OverTheCap. On the other hand, starting nickel corner Mackensie Alexander, 2018 first-round pick Mike Hughes and Hill only take around $4 million in cap space combined.
When the offseason officially begins, the Vikings are set to have about $11 million in space unaccounted for and Rhodes’ $13.4 million hit is the third biggest on the team, only behind Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter.
There are certainly moves the team can make to create space like restructuring the contracts of Everson Griffen and Kyle Rudolph and cutting guard Mike Remmers and safety Andrew Sendejo, but there are also things on the offseason checklist that will be costly, including a new contract for Adam Thielen and filling open spots on the offensive line, at three-technique defensive tackle and potentially linebacker.
Hill’s strong performance could give the Vikings the option to move on from either Rhodes or Waynes and use that cap space to fill bigger needs.
While the success of the ex-Longhorn came in a small sample, he was the fifth highest graded rookie with at least 100 coverage snaps and allowed the third lowest QB rating against.
Among all NFL corners with more than 100 passing snaps, he graded 23rd in coverage, while Waynes was graded 62nd of 131 and Rhodes 111th.
Hill was 11th in rating allowed, while Waynes ended the year 69th and Rhodes 53rd.
Of course, these numbers and grades aren’t apples to apples. Hill’s comes in a much smaller sample size and a major part of Rhodes’ grade comes in the fact he was the 10th most penalized corner in the league last year. Not to mention that both starters battled injuries.
But Mike Zimmer’s defense seems to make corners into kings. After two years of struggling to get on the field, Alexander had a strong finish, ending the year 32rd by PFF. And Hughes showed the potential to make a quick jump when he returns from an ACL injury in his rookie year.
https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019...secondary/
Now with 16 games and three starts under his belt Hill has put himself in position for more playing time next year. In 213 coverage snaps, Hill allowed just 16 catches on 31 targets and a 67.0 quarterback rating against. Meanwhile all the 2018 seventh-round picks combined started two games.
His solid debut season puts the Vikings in an interesting spot.
Between proven starters Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes alone, the Vikings are set to spend around $22.5 million in cap space in 2019, according to OverTheCap. On the other hand, starting nickel corner Mackensie Alexander, 2018 first-round pick Mike Hughes and Hill only take around $4 million in cap space combined.
When the offseason officially begins, the Vikings are set to have about $11 million in space unaccounted for and Rhodes’ $13.4 million hit is the third biggest on the team, only behind Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter.
There are certainly moves the team can make to create space like restructuring the contracts of Everson Griffen and Kyle Rudolph and cutting guard Mike Remmers and safety Andrew Sendejo, but there are also things on the offseason checklist that will be costly, including a new contract for Adam Thielen and filling open spots on the offensive line, at three-technique defensive tackle and potentially linebacker.
Hill’s strong performance could give the Vikings the option to move on from either Rhodes or Waynes and use that cap space to fill bigger needs.
While the success of the ex-Longhorn came in a small sample, he was the fifth highest graded rookie with at least 100 coverage snaps and allowed the third lowest QB rating against.
Among all NFL corners with more than 100 passing snaps, he graded 23rd in coverage, while Waynes was graded 62nd of 131 and Rhodes 111th.
Hill was 11th in rating allowed, while Waynes ended the year 69th and Rhodes 53rd.
Of course, these numbers and grades aren’t apples to apples. Hill’s comes in a much smaller sample size and a major part of Rhodes’ grade comes in the fact he was the 10th most penalized corner in the league last year. Not to mention that both starters battled injuries.
But Mike Zimmer’s defense seems to make corners into kings. After two years of struggling to get on the field, Alexander had a strong finish, ending the year 32rd by PFF. And Hughes showed the potential to make a quick jump when he returns from an ACL injury in his rookie year.
https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019...secondary/