Vikings Grab a Tall Duck
Dustin Baker
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Many Minnesota Vikings fans have suggested this offseason that cornerback is a long-term need, and the team’s front office agreed on Saturday.
Vikings Grab a Tall Duck
At pick No. 108, Minnesota’s third pick of the event after quarterback J.J. McCarthy and outside linebacker Dallas Turner, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah pulled the trigger on cornerback Khyree Jackson, a Duck from the University of Oregon.
The Duck is tall, about 6’4″ and should fold into the Vikings secondary before too long. Minnesota also has a litany of existing cornerbacks on the roster, so depth is not a problem, at least from a depth perspective. Jackson instantly becomes Minnesota’s tallest corner, a perk after Vikings defensive backs were beaten by tall wide receivers a few times in 2023.
Minnesota held a Top 30 visit with Jackson about two weeks ago, so the selection was unsurprising. He played two seasons at Alabama in 2021 and 2022 before transferring to Oregon last season, where he ripped off three interceptions in 12 games. Some fans have argued this offseason that the franchise needs bigger and taller corners. Jackson is that.
In March, Bryce Lazenby of PurplePTSD, a sister site to VikingsTerritory, mock-drafted Jackson to Minnesota and explained, “Jackson played one season for the Oregon Ducks after spending the first two seasons of his college career with the Alabama Crimson Tide. The corner excelled in Eugene, collecting 34 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, and three interceptions.”
Lazenby added, “The former Duck has a decent athletic profile and isn’t afraid of contact. At 6’4″, 197 pounds, Jackson plays like a safety but is quick enough not to get burned on the outside. Great value here.”
The Draft Network‘s Brentley Weissman described Jackson in January, “Jackson is a long and athletic coverman who has an NFL skill set. He is best used on the boundary where he can use his length to his advantage and hide his limited change of direction. Jackson has all the makings of a productive NFL starter.”
This was the Vikings’ current CB room before the Jackson draft pick:
CB1: Byron Murphy
CB2: Akayleb Evans
CB3: Mekhi Blackmon
CB4: Shaquill Griffin
CB5: Andrew Booth
CB6: NaJee Thompson
CB7: Jaylin Williams
CB8: Joejuan Williams
CB9: A.J. Green III
Jackson is an older prospect and will turn 25 in August. The Vikings’ defense ranked 32nd in 2023 per completion percentage allowed. Dead last.
The Vikings have four selections remaining in the draft as of 12:00 pm CST: two 6th-Rounders and two 7th-Rounders.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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