Vikings Welcome Back Key Defender with Open Arms
The Minnesota Vikings’ good news train just won’t stop.
One Vikings defensive back has returned as a full go, which is music to fans’ ears.
The franchise recently welcomed back quarterback J.J. McCarthy to full operations after a successful meniscus tear recovery, extended general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s contract this weekend — and now has cornerback Mekhi Blackmon back in the mix.
Blackmon tore his ACL last summer, but with organized team activities (OTAs) underway, the 26-year-old is all the way back.
Mekhi Blackmon Is Back in the Saddle
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis tweeted Saturday, “Didn’t mention it last week, but was great to see Mekhi Blackmon back out there Wednesday. Looked good. Was really eager to see him last year, injury came at brutal time. Going to be fun to follow into the fall.”
That boots-on-the-ground perspective is what onlookers hoped about Blackmon — he’s back.
CB Room in Decent Shape with Blackmon a Full Go
Poll any number of Vikings fans about the team’s weakest roster spot, and the majority would likely respond “cornerback.”
While that theory may still hold some merit, Blackmon’s recovery by the start of the summer is quite encouraging.
Adofo-Mensah could still sign a free-agent corner or splash with a summer trade for a high-profile CB, but for now, this is the Vikings unit:
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Jeff Okudah
- Dwight McGlothern
- Ambry Thomas
Although some question marks exist, that group could be worse.
Blackmon’s Comments Earlier in the Offseason
Blackmon spoke about his ACL recovery in January, about a week after the Vikings lost in the postseason.
He told reporters, “Really, I just couldn’t believe it. I didn’t think it was real. I didn’t really think I was injured at all. Just thought I got banged up a little. So when I got the news, I was real bummed. But everything happens for a reason. God makes no mistakes, so I’m just kind of waiting for my turn, and it’s coming soon.”
“You’re kind of watching and on the outside looking in. I hope a lot of these guys come back. I had relationships with them, even before I got hurt. A lot of these guys have been saying they wish they could play with me this year, as well.”
Without Blackmon last season — he probably would’ve started — the Vikings turned to Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin, two seasoned veterans who remain free agents in 2025.
Blackmon added, “I haven’t went into a dark space or anything. These guys around the locker room have done a real good job with keeping me around and keeping me energized, as far as watching them and stuff. It’s been a real exciting year just to watch. I wish I could have played.”
Finality in CB Room?
If Adofo-Mensah decides his cornerback depth chart needs more oomph, free agents like Mike Hilton, Asante Samuel Jr., Jack Jones, and Rasul Douglas live on the open market. So do Gilmore and Griffin.
Via trade, the Vikings, in theory, could pursue Jalen Ramey, Greg Newsome II, Jaire Alexander, or Tariq Woolen, to name a few examples.
Otherwise, the front office and coaching staff may be content with what they have. Blackmon’s full health helps.
Janik Eckardt on Blackmon
PurplePTSD‘s Janik Eckardt, who also contributes at VikingsTerritory, recently wrote about Blackmon: “The defender posted a solid debut season, playing north of 400 defensive snaps, mostly as an outside cornerback. He was targeted 44 times and allowed 28 catches for 285 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Blackmon also logged eight pass breakups and, when targeted, gave up a passer rating of 87.8. Just for comparison, that’s exactly the rating his college teammate Caleb Williams had in his rookie season.”
“Like most rookies, he had some struggles mixed in, primarily against taller receivers like Courtland Sutton and Tee Higgins. He’s 5’11”, so those issues aren’t too surprising. Learning to time the jump better or preventing the wideouts from getting into the right position in the first place might be two options to handle those situations better.”
Sans Blackmon in 2024, the Vikings’ defense ranked second in the NFL per EPA/Play.
Eckardt concluded, “Against normal-sized wideouts, however, he showed why the Vikings used pick 102, the final pick of the third round in 2023, to acquire the USC defender. Throughout his first NFL year, he earned a 71.8 grade from PFF. That’s a solid, slightly above average number.”
“Performing well this summer is crucial for the third-year player. He came into the league as an older rookie after spending time in college at San Mateo and Colorado prior to his one year at USC. Therefore, he doesn’t have too much more time to grow and needs to perform sooner rather than later.”
Vikings OTAs continue next week.
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