The Minnesota Vikings eyed, among others, 6-foot-3 cornerback Tre Hawkins.
“#Vikings worked out DeAgo Brumfield, Tre Hawkins, T.J. Moore,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X on August 24.
Of that group, Hawkins is the only one with NFL regular-season experience, and could be someone that fits what the Vikings want to do from a physical. Like his younger fellow hopefuls, though, there are questions about Hawkins, too.
Vikings Eye x-Giants, Commanders CB Tre Hawkins
GettyTre Hawkins worked out for the Vikings on Monday.
Hawkins, 26, was a sixth-round pick by the New York Giants, taken 209th overall during the 2023 draft.
He has since spent time with the Washington Commanders, and he was recently in for a workout with the Houston Texans. That could be the Vikings’ gain. However, that would require proving, particularly to defensive coordinator Brian Flores, that he fits what the Vikings want.
That is where the questions have always been for Hawkins.
“He has a tall, long and limber body type with the gather-and-go skills to quickly transition vertically and stay attached to receivers. His long speed is impressive, but his average lateral agility will put him in recovery mode and shows up as a tackler,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote in “The Beast” in 2023.
“Overall, Hawkins will get clingy and needs to improve his play recognition, but he passes the eye test with flying colors and has the athletic profile NFL teams will want to develop.”
For his career, Hawkins has 45 total tackles and 1 interception in 21 games with four starts, with all of the latter coming in a Giants uniform. He also contributes on special teams, which is critical for back-of-the-roster options.
Vikings Check Out UFL Champion CB, 6-Foot-3 WR
GettyDC Brian Flores and the Vikings are exploring CB options amid some light WR interest.
The Vikings’ other two exploratory options lack experience, but both are intriguing in their own ways, just like Hawkins.
Ago lands on the Vikings’ radar after playing for the Louisville Kings, who he helped get to and win the UFL United Bowl Championship this spring. Ago had 6 total tackles and 1 pass breakup in four games (two regular season and two postseason).
The 6-foot defensive back is still seeking an NFL opportunity. The same is true for Moore.
“Moore is smoother than explosive, and he doesn’t bring a lot of dynamic ability as an athlete. That could hurt his upside to consistently win vertically. He doesn’t always play to his size and has been very inconsistent in contested catch situations, which is concerning,” AtoZ Sports’ Ryan Roberts wrote in June.
“Moore brings a lot of intrigue to the table. His ability to line up in a couple of different spots should be extremely attractive to NFL teams on the next level, where he can eventually develop into a high-end No. 2 wide receiver down the road.”
Vikings Target 6-Foot-3 Former Giants Draft Pick, CB & WR Help