Schefter: Former 1st-Round Pick Mike Hughes Traded from Vikings to Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly acquired cornerback Mike Hughes in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

ESPN's Field Yates reported the Chiefs will receive Hughes and a 2022 seventh-round draft pick in exchange for a 2022 sixth-round pick.

Hughes was a first-round pick in the 2018 draft but has struggled to stay on the field for the Vikings, appearing in just 24 games over three seasons in the NFL. A neck injury limited him to just four games in 2020 before he went on injured reserve.

The Vikings declined the 2022 fifth-year option for the cornerback, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, giving him one more year before free agency.

Minnesota also invested in the secondary this offseason, adding Patrick Peterson and Xavier Woods in free agency while re-signing Mackensie Alexander. Second-year players Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler will also have significant roles at cornerback, leaving limited opportunities for snaps for Hughes in 2021.

He could have more opportunities with the Chiefs, who have yet to re-sign starter Bashaud Breeland.

Charvarius Ward returns while young players L'Jarius Sneed and Rashad Fenton can see bigger roles next season, but there are still plenty of question marks about a pass defense that ranked 18th in the NFL in average yards allowed per attempt. Shoring up the secondary will go a long way toward helping the Chiefs reach expectations as a Super Bowl contender.

The 24-year-old Hughes was highly regarded out of UCF and will try to take advantage of a fresh start in Kansas City.