Vikings Land Audition with Promising Corner
The incoming rookies, including new first-round guard Donovan Jackson, are scheduled to take the field for rookie minicamp on May 8th. It’ll be the first time the young players take the field after joining the Vikings in the draft or as priority free agents.
Vikings Land Audition with Promising Corner
Some of the players that entered the draft, however, have neither heard their names called in the draft nor signed a deal. Those guys receive an invitation for the rookie minicamp and audition for a spot on the 90-man offseason roster.
The Vikings have landed one sneakily attractive player who starred for the University of Nebraska: Cornerback Tommi Hill. The Cornhuskers announced the invite.
Hill was a popular prospect early last season and was regarded by some as a potential high draft pick. Ultimately, he slipped all the way into the UDFA pool.
247 Sports’ Mike Schaefer wrote after the draft, “One of the many, many draft-eligible players hoping to hear his name called by the end of the NFL Draft on Saturday is former Nebraska defensive back Tommi Hill. During this time a year ago, Hill was being discussed as one of the top cornerback options teams would be locked in on during the 2024 season. Mock drafts had him as a late first-round pick. Hill picked off Shedeur Sanders for a quick, easy touchdown in Nebraska’s non-conference win against Colorado.”
Hill started his career at Arizona State and transferred to Nebraska, where he spent his final three collegiate seasons.
Schaefer noted that an injury slowed him down: “Then the bottom fell out. Hill was dealing with plantar fasciitis all season. Matched up against another draft hopeful, Pat Bryant, in the Illinois game, Hill was unable to hang and had to sub out. The rest of the season spiraled and then the offseason went similarly. No combine numbers. No numbers at Nebraska’s pro day. Just questions.”
Although he didn’t test at the scouting combine, his athleticism is seemingly fine.
Hill’s numbers dropped badly. PFF gave him an 85.9 grade in 2023 and only a 70.9 last season. He went from one touchdown allowed and four interceptions to three touchdowns allowed and one interception. The passer rating allowed was wonderful in 2023 (40.4) and horrendous in 2024 (119.6).
Second overall pick and new NFL superstar Travis Hunter evidently enjoyed his battle with Hill, suggesting he was the toughest cornerback he faced in college.
The defender is well-built for NFL competition at six feet and about 215 pounds with a long wingspan.
The Vikings now have a prime opportunity to figure out whether the defensive back is the 2023 version — offering the potential to basically get a free draft pick by signing the man to a contract — or if he’s the 2024 version and shouldn’t be part of the team.
If he indeed makes the 90-man offseason roster, the way to the 53-man roster would be beating out last year’s UDFA signing and preseason standout, Dwight McGlothern, who, in his own right, will attempt to unseat Jeff Okudah to become the primary backup.
Editorās Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference CFB helped with this article.