The Road to 53: CB Mekhi Blackmon Is Fully Entrenched in Minnesota’s CB Battle
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings had their rookies report to training camp on Sunday, July 23rd. Minnesota’s veterans also reported a week ago, so training camp is in full swing in Eagan.
As the practice sessions begin, we are continuing to take a look at the depth pieces of this Vikings team, and where they may fit into the 2023 roster through our “Road to 53” series. The next player on our list is CB Mekhi Blackmon, who the Vikings selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Background
Blackmon was a relatively unknown player coming out of high school in the Class of 2017. As a result, he got his collegiate career started at the JUCO level, committing to College of San Mateo (Calif.). During that season, he recorded 20 tackles, an interception, deflection and fumble recovery. Following a year at a lower level, he began gaining some national attention with 24/7 Sports ranking him as a three-star recruit.
In 2018, Blackmon left his junior college, opting to join the Colorado Buffaloes in the PAC-12. He appeared in six games during his first season at Colorado, including three starts. In all, he recorded 10 tackles and had a pair of passes defended to his name. However, this was a rebuilding Buffaloes program that went 5-7, missing out on a bowl game.
Blackmon saw his 2019 season derailed by a shoulder injury that limited him to just four games, allowing him to redshirt the year. Before that injury ended his year, the cornerback put together 10 tackles, including a sack as well as a forced fumble.
As a redshirt junior, Blackmon bounced back healthwise in 2020, but that season was limited to just six games because of COVID-19. However, he started all six of the games for Colorado, recording 15 tackles, a tackle for loss, 6 passes defended, and an interception. The Buffaloes also had a strong regular season in the conference, finishing 4-2 and making an Alamo Bowl appearance. They would lose that game to Texas, though.
Finally, in 2021 everything came together for Blackmon. He played nine games at corner for Colorado, recording 50 tackles, 4 passes defended, and an interception. During that season, Pro Football Focus gave him a coverage grade of 74.1 in his first season playing over 300 snaps in coverage.
Following that strong season, all eyes were on Blackmon from a national perspective. In order to maximize his chances of being drafted in 2023, the cornerback opted to transfer to USC, joining new head coach Lincoln Riley.
During his final collegiate year, Blackmon absolutely starred for the Trojans. He started all 14 games for the team, recording 66 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 12 passes defended, 3 interceptions, and a forced fumble. PFF gave him his highest coverage grade yet, landing him at a ridiculous 91.1. He allowed just 30 receptions on 63 targets that went for 286 yards and a touchdown.
Following this strong year, Blackmon’s draft stock was at an all-time high, and it allowed him to be drafted in the third round by the Minnesota Vikings. Now, he is hoping to make an impact in a thin CB room during his rookie NFL season.
How Blackmon Can Impact the 2023 Vikings
Behind Byron Murphy, the battle for CB2 is absolutely wide open at this point. There really can’t be considered a favorite either, considering that the only other player with multiple starts in the NFL is Akayleb Evans.
Blackmon thrived in man coverage for USC last season, and that is precisely the type of player whom Brian Flores loves on his defenses. He blankets receivers at the line of scrimmage, and despite his smaller stature, he utilizes some terrific toughness and physicality to make things difficult early on in the route.
Throughout his career at USC, Blackmon would go out of his way to make sure he guarded Jordan Addison during practices, and so far into training camp, that same competitive mentality has remained. If he wants to snag a starting spot in the lineup, this fiery spirit is going to be what gets him there.
Obstacles in His Way
The big knock on the cornerback in terms of his play is that he can have a tendency to overdo things in terms of his aggressiveness. Blackmon gets extremely grabby, and while he was able to get away with it at times in college, it could become a big problem in the NFL if he can’t reel the overaggressive tendencies in.
Additionally, when we say Blackmon is small, we mean really small. The 5’11 height isn’t as big of a deal, but the fact that he weighs in at just 179 pounds could become a problem against the more burly NFL receivers.
The Prediction
Overall, Vikings fans should expect to see Blackmon get onto the field with the defense during the regular season. It may not be as a starter, but at the very least, the cornerback’s playstyle and attitude towards every matchup is something that Flores will love in his secondary. His ability to run-stop (graded 79.4 in run defense during 2022, per PFF) shouldn’t be overlooked, either.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.