Vikings Ink Another Rookie to a Contract
The Minnesota Vikings made a total of seven selections during the 2024 NFL Draft.
The draft class will go down as a historic one for the franchise, namely because of their first two selections of QB J.J. McCarthy and OLB Dallas Turner. However, ironically, these are now the final two rookies from the draft class to remain unsigned as another rookie signed a deal on Tuesday evening.
That rookie is CB Khyree Jackson, who was selected with the 108th overall pick in April’s draft.
Another Vikings Rookie Signs Contract
The team itself announced the signing. The official social media account tweeted on Tuesday evening, “[Khyree Jackson] @Real_Khyree has inked his first NFL contract.”
Jackson joins a Vikings secondary that is on the verge of a very intriguing position battle at the cornerback spot this summer. Currently, there are 10 players employed by the Vikings at the spot, but realistically, the only one who can feel solidified in a starting role at this point in time is veteran Byron Murphy.
As a result, Jackson should feel as if he has a decent chance to earn some significant playing time this fall. It wouldn’t be the first time in recent years that a fourth-round pick has garnered a large chunk of the snaps. After being selected in the fourth round during the 2022 Draft, Akayleb Evans had a limited role during the 2022 season before taking on a starting role in 2023.
Last spring, Mekhi Blackmon was selected in the third round with the 102nd overall pick, and he had 435 snaps for the Vikings’ defense over the course of 15 games. He also made three starts.
In terms of Jackson’s capabilities, the cornerback has thrived largely in press-man coverage over the course of his collegiate career, which would be a flip in philosophy from what the Vikings ran during the 2023 campaign. However, that 2023 defense was a surprising change from what we usually see out of a Brian Flores defense, so perhaps the selection of Jackson is an indication of a possible change back to the norm.
Jackson bounced around at the junior college level for a couple years to begin his career before landing with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2021. After two seasons in Nick Saban’s program, he transferred to Oregon for the 2023 campaign.
The cornerback will turn 25 years old on August 11th.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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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.
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