Bengals’ former star defender, who was signed for $24 million, expected to join Minnesota Vikings

Now that we’re in the month of June, preseason football can formally begin next month. Consequently, it’s safe to assume that most clubs have finished adding significant players to their squads.

But, there are still some good free agents on both sides of the ball who can be signed, and there are always late signees who make a significant impact.

Some outside help at key positions would be a great asset to the Minnesota Vikings. One Vikings Territory contributor, Dustin Baker, thinks cornerback Mike Hilton would be a good fit for the club.

After playing out the last year of a four-year, $24 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024, Hilton is reportedly seeking a new team to sign with.

What follows is what Baker had to say about Hilton and the Vikings:

Hilton is 31 and has played about 5,000 defensive snaps since turning pro in 2017. He blitzes quarterbacks with the best of them as a cornerback. Hilton also usually posts respectable passer-rating-against and Pro Football Focus marks.  Like Jones, if Minnesota resolves that it needs more CB juice, Hilton’s veteran leadership and skill set would fit perfectly inside Brian Flores’ defense.

As Baker mentioned, Hilton is an experienced veteran who and has traditionally posted respectable numbers. In 2024, Hilton played in 16 games for the Bengals and collected 73 tackles, five pass deflections, and one interception. The veteran was inconsistent in coverage, but excelled against the run. Pro Football Focus gave Hilton an elite 91.7 run defense grade, which was the best mark among 222 qualified corners. The Vikings were elite against the run in 2024, and a player like Hilton could help that stay the case in 2025. Overall, Hilton has played eight seasons in the NFL- four with the Pittsburgh Steelers and four with the Bengals. In that time, Hilton has earned a reputation as a reliable slot corner and has collected 520 total tackles, 56 pass deflections, and 13 interceptions. In Minnesota, adding Hilton would mean moving Byron Murphy Jr. to the outside. The Vikings could then trot out Murphy and Mekhi Blackmon on the boundary, with Hilton in the slot.

Spotrac projects Hilton to land a three-year deal worth more than $12 million annually, but it’s likely the veteran ends up settling for less this late in the offseason.

Over the Cap has the Vikings at around $18 million in remaining cap space, so adding a player like Hilton makes sense financially.