DAILY CLIPS FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2018 LOCAL NEWS: Friday, July 20, 2018 Pioneer Press Vikings sign first-round draft pick Mike Hughes By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/07/19/vikings-sign-first-round-draft-pick-mike-hughes/ Star Tribune 2018 camp preview: Will the Vikings keep one of NFL's top receiving duos? By Andrew Krammer http://www.startribune.com/2018-camp-preview-will-the-vikings-secure-one-of-nfls-top-receiving-duos/488618561/ Vikings sign rookie Mike Hughes By Rana L. Cash http://www.startribune.com/vikings-sign-rookie-mike-hughes/488657201/ Magic Moment: Stefon Diggs' game-winning catch vs. Saints wins ESPY award By Brian Stensaas http://www.startribune.com/magic-moment-stefon-diggs-game-winning-catch-vs-saints-wins-espy-award/488568531/ Vikings.com Mike Hughes Inks Rookie Deal with Vikings By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/mike-hughes-inks-rookie-deal-with-vikings Lunchbreak: Vikings Are No. 4 in ESPN's 'Future' Power Rankings By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/lunchbreak-vikings-are-no-4-in-espn-s-future-power-rankings State of the Vikings: Offensive Line By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/state-of-the-vikings-offensive-line Based on Fan Feedback, Vikings Led NFL in 'Game Entertainment' for 2017 By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/based-on-fan-feedback-vikings-led-nfl-in-game-entertainment-for-2017 VIKING Update Before They Were Pros: TE Tyler Conklin By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Before-They-Were-Pros-TE-Tyler-Conklin-119930732/ Camp setup: Ranking, previewing quarterbacks By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Camp-setup-Ranking-previewing-Minnesota-Vikings-quarterbacks- 119924439/ 1500 ESPN Report: Vikings have deal in place with first-round pick Hughes By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/07/report-vikings-deal-place-first-round-pick-hughes/ Pro Football Focus predicts Vikings to win the North By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/07/pro-football-focus-predicts-vikings-win-north/ NATIONAL NEWS: Friday, July 20, 2018 NFL.com Vikings first-round CB Mike Hughes signs rookie deal By Herbie Teope http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000941027/article/vikings-firstround-cb-mike-hughes-signs-rookie-deal NFC North training camp preview: Key players to watch By Nick Shook http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000940091/article/nfc-north-training-camp-preview-key-players-to-watch PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 7/20/18 Vikings sign first-round draft pick Mike Hughes By Chris Tomasson The Vikings on Thursday signed first-round pick Mike Hughes, who had been their last unsigned draftee. A cornerback selected No. 30 overall, Hughes received a four-year, $9.87 million deal, including a signing bonus of $5.256 million. He has a 2018 salary-cap number of $1.794 million. The Vikings had seven of their eight draft picks signed by May 5, the second day of a three-day rookie minicamp. Hughes practiced throughout spring drills under an injury protection agreement. He will report along with other rookies for training camp on Tuesday and take the field Wednesday for the first practice at TCO Performance Center in Eagan. Hughes, who played at Central Florida, might not play a lot on defense as a rookie but has a strong chance to be Minnesota’s kickoff returner. Marcus Sherels held the job last year but might be better suited to exclusively return punts. There also is a chance Hughes could beat out Sherels to return punts. Because Hughes was a first-round pick, the Vikings will have an opportunity to pick up a fifth-year option after his third season. PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 7/20/18 2018 camp preview: Will the Vikings keep one of NFL's top receiving duos? By Andrew Krammer Before then, the Star Tribune will take a look at each position group. Thursday: Receivers On the 90-man roster: 12 receivers Locks: Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Laquon Treadwell Good bets: Kendall Wright, Stacy Coley On the bubble: Brandon Zylstra, Tavarres King, Korey Robertson Practice squad candidates: Chad Beebe, Jeff Badet, Jake Wieneke Suspended: Cayleb Jones (4 games) Changes (+) Signed ex-Bears receiver Kendall Wright to a one-year, $1 million deal with $400,000 guaranteed. … Signed CFL-leading receiver Brandon Zylstra to a boilerplate three-year deal, guaranteeing him $275,000. … Signed ex-Giants receiver Tavarres King to a one-year minimum deal. … Signed four UDFAs in Robertson, Beebe, Badet and Wieneke. (-) Jarius Wright was cut in March and signed with the Panthers on a three-year, $7.5 million deal. … The Vikings let Michael Floyd’s contract expire. He remains unsigned. Situation The change for 2018 revolves around the Vikings’ star receiving duo of Thielen and Diggs. The middle class at receiver was gutted with money flowing to the quarterback and star defenders. With Wright and Floyd gone, Thielen and Diggs will see turnover on the bench behind them. Both top receivers will also catch passes from their fourth different quarterback in four years in an offense orchestrated by their third different coordinator since 2015. The Vikings invested minimal guarantees to acquire Kendall Wright and Brandon Zylstra, both of whom could be on the Week 1 roster, along with Treadwell and Coley returning. Diggs is entering his contract season. If he isn’t re-signed before free agency, he’d easily be one of the league’s most coveted targets. That’s why extending Diggs is a focus for the Vikings this summer, prior to a potential-filled season with Kirk Cousins under center. Thielen is entering the second season of a four-year deal that runs through 2020. Top question Will the Vikings secure one of the league’s top receiving duos? Locking up Diggs, with Thielen under contract through 2020, would give Minnesota a top skill group for seasons to come. The question is at what cost? Jarvis Landry just got $34 million guaranteed at signing on a five-year deal with the Browns. Davante Adams got $18 million guaranteed up front in December on a four-year extension in Green Bay. Both players average at least $14 million per season. Another domino could fall if Diggs gets paid in Minnesota: Will Thielen’s camp understandably ask for a restructure given he’s one of the league’s most underpaid players? “For me, I don’t really focus on the numbers. I’m happy for the guys that get paid around the league,” Diggs said. “These are men that have been playing football for their whole life. As far as them securing something for their kids and stuff like that, it’s very special, so I like to congratulate guys every chance I get. As far as my particular situation, I want my resume to speak for itself. It will figure itself out.” What you should know Thielen, the Vikings’ first 1,000-yard receiver since Sidney Rice in 2009, was given last year’s Korey Stringer Good Guy Award by the Twin Cities chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America. The award annually honors the Vikings player who best displays professionalism, cooperation and sense of humor with reporters. Notable number 8 — Stefon Diggs’ eight touchdown catches last season tied for the most by a Viking receiver since 2004, when Randy Moss (13) and Nate Burleson (9) both eclipsed that number. The Vikings finally have the receiving talent again for double-digit scorers; do they now have the passer and the system? Top competition Receiver No. 3 — Treadwell looked leaner as he ran through spring drills as the primary No. 3 receiver for Kirk Cousins. Time will tell if veteran Kendall Wright sees top reps in camp after he learned the offense catching passes from Trevor Siemian in OTAs. Also keep an eye on second-year receiver Stacy Coley, who was seeing some first-team reps this spring before suffering an injury in practice. PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 7/20/18 Vikings sign rookie Mike Hughes By Rana L. Cash The last time the Vikings had a Central Florida product on the roster, things turned out pretty well. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper led the team to the NFC Championship Game in his second season in 2000. Now another Golden Knight gets a chance to make his presence felt, only this time it’s a rookie. The Vikings signed cornerback Mike Hughes, their first-round draft pick, Thursday. The signing comes only days before the rookies and quarterbacks are set to report to training camp Tuesday. All eight of the Vikings’ rookies are now under contract. Hughes, the 30th overall pick, spent part of minicamp working in the slot to gain even more experience, and that could continue into training camp. With the depth the Vikings have at the position, coach Mike Zimmer isn’t forced to give Hughes significant playing time right away. “Wherever they want me,” Hughes said last month. “Right now, I think the main focus is learning the nickel position. [Outside] corner is something I’ve been playing recently. Just learning the nickel position, being comfortable doing whatever they tell me to do.” Hughes, 5-10 and 189 pounds, played only one season at UCF after transferring there from a junior college, but made a big impact on special teams and at corner. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, plus had both a punt return TD and an interception return for a score. He finished the year with four interceptions. The Vikings’ secondary returns starting cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes, as well as Mackensie Alexander and Terence Newman.