Amidst the hype surrounding the 2023 NFL Draft, the cornerback class stood out as one of the deepest and most talented groups in recent memory. And on Friday night, the Minnesota Vikings made their move, selecting USC cornerback Mekhi Blackmon to bolster their defense.
With this pick, the Vikings addressed a pressing need in their lineup. If you’re curious to learn more about Blackmon and his potential impact, read on for insights from some of the most respected draft analysts out there.
Lance Zierlein NFL.com Analyst
Aggressive man-cover cornerback whose physical play brings both passes defensed and penalties. Blackmon gives receivers a rough ride over the first five yards, but his extended grabbing will be less tolerated by NFL officials. He’s capable of phasing routes when matching from press, but he doesn’t have the hips to transition smoothly when playing off-man coverage. He’s talented at squeezing the catch space and timing his challenges, but Blackmon’s lack of size and fluidity could limit his pro chances. – Zierlein
Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network
His ball skills are a big plus with the ball in the air as well. He rakes at the football to pop it straight into the air if he is playing on the body of a receiver, but in zone situations, he tracks the football very well and made several big plays on the ball in this regard.
With that said, he isn’t a perfect player, and his size and build are the catalysts of a number of shortcomings. He can be overwhelmed at times in the contact window by bigger players and that will only compound in the NFL. His reaction at times was to grab, as evidenced by a significant number of flags called against his coverages. But it also pops up in the run game, where some teams will find conflict in knowing that he’s not physical and dense enough to shine as an outside player in press-heavy systems but he’s also not a great match to tackle and fill the D-gap as a run support player to play in the nickel. Some teams may struggle to find confidence in a home for him as a result. But there’s one thing that I know: this dude can cover.
Expectations for Blackmon should have him playing significant defensive snaps for an NFL franchise in 2023. Blackmon can play man, he can play zone, he’s got good ball skills, and he can strike. His stature will make him a role-specific player for some teams, but I would expect a player with this kind of coverage skills will be hard to keep off the field for too long. – Crabbs
Bleacher Report Scouting Report
Mekhi Blackmon transferred to USC following four seasons at Colorado and burst onto the scene for the Trojans, earning first-team Pac-12 and and third-team Associated Press All-America honors. While his physical and athletic profiles leave a bit to be desired, his coverage ability is undeniable.
Blackmon’s lack of size and strength is a hindrance against the run. These limitations give him difficulty when shedding blocks and prevent him from delivering much punishment to ball-carriers. His abilities translate best as an undersized outside corner in the NFL, and while he has experience inside, he may struggle against NFL run games.
The hallmark of Blackmon’s game is his coverage ability, specifically in press-man. While undersized, Blackmon is an incredibly physical and aggressive corner who is not afraid to fight above his weight class. His physicality brings loads of penalty flags with it, but Blackmon is rarely beat for splash plays and demonstrates high-level ball skills.
Blackmon is an incredibly interesting prospect whose position in the draft has a wide range of outcomes. His physical limitations in both build and athleticism raise questions, yet his impressive coverage ability creates quite a lot of intrigue. Ultimately, he will likely be capped by these limitations, preventing him from being amongst the top defensive backs off the board. – Bleacher Report Scouting Team
The 33rd Team Scouting Department
Blackmon is lean and lacks the ideal size that you hope for at the cornerback position. He is a very inconsistent player who makes some plays and gives up some plays. He falls for double moves by receivers. He has ordinary instincts with solid speed and overall athletic ability but comes with concerns. Blackmon could get over-drafted, he has had hype but has struggled to back it up.- 33rd Team
Tommy Garrett of Pro Football Network
Blackmon gives effort in his all-around game and consistently fights to make positive plays. He has a thin build and lacks elite speed, yet he has enough ability to make a roster as a dime back and special-teams player. – Garrett
