The Lions had the youngest group of cornerbacks in the NFL last season. They're adding some experience for 2022.
Detroit has signed former first-round pick Mike Hughes to a one-year, $3.5 million contract, according to Pro Football Focus. The fifth-year corner is coming off his best season in the NFL in which he set career highs in passes defended (6), forced fumbles (4) and total tackles (47) in 17 games for the AFC West-winning Chiefs.
He also ranked 11th in the NFL among corners with a career-best defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, one spot behind Darius Slay, and 14th among corners with a career-best coverage grade while playing mostly on the outside for Kansas City's defense.
Hughes, 25, spent his first three seasons with the Vikings, who drafted him 30th overall in 2018 and dealt him to the Chiefs last offseason. He'll join a cornerbacks room in Detroit that features lots of potential -- and unproven talent -- in the likes of Jeff Okudah, Amani Oruwariye, Jerry Jacobs and A.J. Parker.
The Lions allowed the most passing yards per attempt in the NFL last season and the third highest passer rating.
Detroit also agreed to a one-year deal with former Ravens linebacker Chris Board on Monday, a 'special-teams standout and situational defensive player for Baltimore, who made an effort to keep him,' per NFL Network.
Entering his fifth NFL season, Board is reportedly 'expected to compete for a starting spot on defense in Detroit,' where Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes are the top two players on the depth chart at linebacker.