Minnesota Vikings: Holton Hill a name to watch in training camp

Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback Holton Hill was highly sought after when he went undrafted. Here’s why he’s a name to keep an eye on going forward.

The Minnesota Vikings have had one of the top defenses in the league during the last few years. In fact, they boasted the No. 1 ranked defense last season, holding opponents to an average of 275.9 total yards per game.

One of the biggest strengths on defense has been cornerback. With depth that already includes Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, Mike Hughes and Terence Newman, undrafted rookie Holton Hill may have a tough time earning snaps in 2018.

But that’s what training camp is for, right? The valuable time and reps allows young players to grow and budding-stars to shine.

Hill was an undrafted free agent out of Texas, and was highly-touted coming out of high school. The former Longhorn was expecting to be a Day 2 pick this past April, but as time went on it became clear Hill would need to seek work himself.

But just because he went undrafted doesn’t mean he isn’t talented. In fact, the Vikings believe Hill could be starter-material in the near future. As NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero put it:

"“[The Vikings] think that Holton Hill has starter ability, maybe the most-physical corner who came out in this draft class. He’s 6-foot-2 [and] runs a 4.4 range 40. Ability was never the question, it was off the field issues.”"

Pelissero also talked about the fact that the Vikings gave Hill $75,000 in guaranteed money, an unprecedented number for an undrafted rookie. For the upside Hill poses, it’s money well-spent.

Many scouts talked about Hill’s ability to play physical at the line of scrimmage (sometimes too physical) and willingness to tackle, a trait many NFL coaches look for. He also comes in at 6-2, weighs 196 pounds and has 32-inch arms, prototypical size for an NFL cornerback.

As a junior last season, Hill intercepted two passes, returning both for touchdowns. He also recorded six pass breakups and 51 tackles. His best showing came against Oklahoma State, when he held James Washington to four catches for 32 yards. Washington was a second-round selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Pro Football Focus graded Hill as the 11th-best cornerback in 2017. Additionally, he was the highest-graded player on his entire team. He garnered a grade of 87.8 overall, and held quarterbacks to a meager passer rating of 48.1 when targeting him.

However, after playing in nine games he was suspended for violating team rules. Hill has dealt with several marijuana-related issues in the past. But after a couple months on an NFL roster, it seems he’s figuring things out, and even sought treatment for his drug use.

Next: NFL 2018: Dark horse MVP candidate for each team

Hill has had plenty of issues off the field, but his performance on the field warrants an opportunity; his talent has never been a question. As training camp wears on, don’t be surprised if Holton Hill is a name you hear often.