The Minnesota Vikings’ defense was much improved over the 2023 season compared to the 2022 squad. The defensive scheme Brian Flores has employed with the team seems to have clicked and is starting to pay dividends. But the squad heads into the 2024 season with some significant questions on the defense, particularly in the cornerback room.
The Vikings signed former Jacksonville Jaguars and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin in the off-season in the hopes that he can bolster the cornerback corps, return to his former Pro Bowl form, and provide some veteran leadership and mentorship for their rookie third-round pick, Khyree Jackson.
But another former third-round pick has caught the eye of some during mini-camps. Pro Football Network’s Tony Catalina examined every team heading into training camp and identified one potential breakout player from each. For the Vikings, Catalina’s pick is Mekhi Blackmon.
The Vikings entered the offseason with question marks at the CB position, and as the season creeps close, they still have some of those questions. However, Blackmon hopes to be the answer for them, and those around the team believe he can be. The young DB has a chance to make a name for himself in 2024 and solidify a unit that needs it.
Blackmon had an up-and-down start to his Vikings career in his rookie campaign of 2023. He had some solid stats, with 43 tackles, three tackles for loss, seven passes defended, and a fumble recovery. On the flip side, Blackmon could only garner three starts as a rookie even on a team that struggled at the position.
If Blackmon can step up in his sophomore season and become a reliable cover corner for the team, it would go a long way toward making the Vikings’ defense one of the best units in the league.
