The Indianapolis Colts have acquired former third round draft pick, cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, from the Minnesota Vikings in a trade announced late Monday night. The Colts gave up a 2026 sixth-round pick in exchange for the pass defender.
Blackmon was unable to build off a promising rookie campaign, as his second season was ended before it began last year.
“He appeared in 15 games as a rookie and made three starts, recording 41 tackles, three for loss and an interception. Blackmon suffered a season-ending ACL injury at the start of the 2024 Vikings Training Camp,” writes Vikings’ senior editor Craig Peters.
Mekhi Blackmon Joins Crowded Cornerback Room
Cornerback was not considered an area of concern before the addition of Blackmon. Jaylon Jones, Charvarius Ward, and Kenny Moore are expected to highlight one of the most well equipped starting cornerback units. Xavien Howard is a more than acceptable depth piece.
Now, adding Blackmon only strengthens a unit that Paul Bretl of USA Today says the team will rely on.
“This is going to be a defensive back-reliant scheme under Lou Anarumo,” Bretl writes. “So while keeping seven cornerbacks is more than many teams will roster, I was comfortable doing so because of this malleable and disguise-heavy system that will throw a variety of looks at opposing offenses from the back end.”
Blackmon Has Endless Upside
Although he is walking into a crowded cornerback room, Blackmon is still a promising piece at 26-years-old.
The USC alumni played 434 defensive snaps his rookie season. He broke up eight passes on his way to earning a 71.8 grade from Pro Football Focus.
Blackmon comes in a hair shy of six feet on the tape measurer, but ran a 4.47 forty yard dash at his combine. He played five seasons of college football, starting with the Colorado Buffaloes before becoming a Trojan.
He will make $1.2 million this year with Indianapolis as he continues to operate on his rookie deal.
Colts Acquire Former Third-Round Corner In Vikings Trade