Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Kevin Fielder

Vikings 90-man roster player profile: CB Mekhi Blackmon

Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!

Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.

What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.

As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.

Background

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Name: Mekhi Blackmon

Rank: 39

Height: 5-11

Weight: 178 lbs

Experience: Rookie

College: USC

Stats (at Colorado and USC): 66 total tackles, 13 passes defended, 3 interceptions

Votes: 

Tyler Forness: 44

Kevin Fielder: 35

Judd Zulgad: 35

Saivion Mixson: 39

Average: 38.25

Best case scenario

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Drafting him in the third round, the Minnesota Vikings see something in Mekhi Blackmon. Despite being slightly undersized, Blackmon is a physical cornerback who’s not afraid to get into the face of opposing wide receivers and create havoc. If those things carry over into the NFL, Blackmon could become a reliable starter in a short time.

Worst case scenario

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The problem with Blackmon’s aggression is that it’s not always properly channeled. Blackmon’s feistiness could make him a target for illegal contact penalties in the NFL, which could see him come off the field more often than not. While Blackmon isn’t necessarily short, his sub-6-feet frame will limit his effectiveness as an outside cornerback against bigger receivers, which could relegate him to becoming a slot cornerback in the NFL.

What to expect in 2023

Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

Mekhi Blackmon is in a position to battle for one of the team’s starting cornerback spots, which could be a massive boost to his development. Even if Blackmon isn’t a week 1 starter, there’s an expectation that the Vikings will find ways to get Blackmon on the field. While this is a developmental year for Blackmon, getting significant playing time would be a positive for him and the team.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.