Mekhi Blackmon’s Comeback Boosts Vikings’ Cornerback Room Ahead of 2025 Season
As the Minnesota Vikings approach the 2025 NFL season, quarterback remains the biggest question mark on the roster. However, cornerback is another area lacking clarity—making Mekhi Blackmon’s return from injury a welcome development.
Blackmon, now 26, was selected 102nd overall in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He made appearances in 15 games during his rookie season, including three starts. Unfortunately, a torn ACL on the very first day of 2024 training camp sidelined him for the entire year.
Now, Blackmon is participating in organized team activities (OTAs) and already turning heads less than a year after the injury.
“Mekhi Blackmon looking good about 10 months after his ACL tear,” a fan account posted on X on May 30, sharing a video of Blackmon back on the field from the Vikings’ official Instagram page.
The injury occurred 310 days prior, according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on X in July 2024. At the time, the loss was considered a major setback, with The Athletic’s Alec Lewis calling it “absolutely brutal.”
Vikings Hope Blackmon Can Fill Key CB Void
As of May 31, Minnesota lists 10 cornerbacks on the roster, but only Byron Murphy Jr. had starting experience in 2024. While the team is optimistic about 2024 UDFA Dwight McGlothern, they also added Jeff Okudah, a former first-rounder from Detroit, via free agency.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell revealed that defensive coordinator Brian Flores is particularly high on Isaiah Rodgers, a former Eagles cornerback now with the Vikings.
Still, Blackmon stands out as a potential homegrown solution for a team that faced serious losses in the secondary last season. In addition to Blackmon’s ACL tear, 2024 fourth-round pick Khyree Jackson tragically passed away in a car crash that July. Later, the Vikings traded away Andrew Booth Jr., a 2022 second-rounder, to the Cowboys and released Akayleb Evans, another 2022 draftee.
Murphy, 27, re-signed with Minnesota on a three-year, $54 million deal but originally entered the league with the Arizona Cardinals. This makes Blackmon the only cornerback drafted by the Vikings currently on the roster—highlighting his importance and the rarity of continuity at the position.
GM Adofo-Mensah Under Scrutiny—But Secure
Despite a shaky draft track record, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah received a contract extension. Critics have pointed to missed opportunities and underperformance in recent draft classes—particularly the 2024 group, where both first-round picks contributed little due to injuries like Blackmon’s.
The decision to extend Adofo-Mensah signals organizational trust in his long-term vision, even amid outside concern over cornerback depth.
Meanwhile, Minnesota enters 2025 with one of the league’s strongest groups of skill players and an improved offensive and defensive line. Rookie QB J.J. McCarthy is expected to take over as starter, aiming to keep the offense competitive.
Defensively, Flores will need to navigate a reworked secondary, especially with veterans like Shaquil Griffin and Stephon Gilmore—who supported the unit in 2024—no longer in the mix. Replicating last year’s defensive success will be a significant challenge without that veteran presence.
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