Here are four things to know about the newest Colts’ CB Mekhi Blackmon, who Indianapolis acquired from the Vikings via trade.
The Indianapolis Colts have bolstered their cornerback position by trading for Minnesota’s Mekhi Blackmon. In return, the Colts sent the Vikings a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.
For a closer look at Blackmon, let’s take a look at four things to know about the newest member of the Colts’ cornerback room.
Mekhi Blackmon’s 2023 and 2024 seasons
The Vikings selected Blackmon in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft out of USC. During that rookie year, Blackmon appeared in 15 games, which included making three starts, and played 434 defensive snaps.
Blackmon allowed a completion rate of 63% on 44 targets as a rookie. He gave up 10.2 yards per catch, according to PFF, while forcing one interception and eight pass breakups.
He was also a very reliable tackler, making all 45 of his attempts without any misses.
Unfortunately, Blackmon would miss the entire 2024 season recovering from an ACL injury.
Added versatility to the Colts’ secondary
Of Blackmon’s 434 snaps as a rookie, 382 of them came lined up as an outside cornerback. That is also where the majority of his snaps during his college career at USC and Colorado would come as well.
However, during his college days, Blackmon also saw snaps lined up in the slot and as a box defender.
Versatility in the secondary is a key element in Lou Anarumo’s defensive scheme, where we will see a heavier usage of disguised coverages with players moved around and tasked with filling a greater variety of roles.
Added insight from Vikings Wire
For some additional insight into Blackmon’s game, Andrew Harbaugh, the managing editor of Vikings Wire, had this to say:
“Mekhi Blackmon was someone the Vikings had high hopes for heading into last season before a torn ACL ruined that potential,” Harbaugh wrote. “Fast forward a year, Blackmon was expected to provide some much-needed depth to a thin Vikings cornerback group.
“If the Colts can be patient, he is someone who could prove to be a valuable depth piece in their secondary, but never someone you want to trust on an island with a team’s top receiver.”
Mekhi Blackmon’s fit with the Colts
We already discussed the versatility that Blackmon potentially brings to this defense and the importance of that. But my early guess is that at 5-11 – 178 pounds, Blackmon gives the Colts added nickel depth behind Kenny Moore with the flexibility to have him fill other roles as needed.
The addition of Blackmon to the cornerback room makes an already crowded cornerback room even more congested.
Blackmon joins a unit that features Charvarius Ward and Kenny Moore. Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents also returned from injury lately, while Chris Lammons and Johnathan Edwards made strong roster pushes. Samuel Womack found himself in the mix as well, but has been working through an injury.
Teams often roster six cornerbacks, but the Colts could keep seven in Anarumo’s defensive back-reliant scheme, which still leaves one to two of the aforementioned players on the outside looking in.