With the 102nd select inside of the 2023 NFL Draft, the ultimate pick out of the 3rd-spherical, the Vikings decided on Mekhi Blackmon, cornerback, versus USC. Blackmon was rated 185th upon the marketplace consensus board and was the 21st rated Vikings traded down with the 49ers towards their 87th opt for past in direction of picking out Blackmon, getting the 102nd, 164th, and 222nd choices inside of swap. Immediately after the minute night time of the draft, Vikings' GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah reported that he was inclined toward draft Blackmon at still felt the repayment the 49ers presented in the direction of exchange down was significance the chance. TraitsBlackmon is a scaled-down cornerback at 5'11" 178 body weight still consists of a good deal of prolonged pace and quickness for the place. His characteristics are incredibly comparable towards Devon Witherspoon, who was the initial cornerback drafted, shifting in general. Blackmon is an more mature participant, on the other hand, as he grew to become 24 within January though Witherspoon is 22. The checks not calculated for either avid gamers were being through preference, not thanks toward damage, consequently oneself can go through into that what on your own will. College or university StatsBlackmon led the Pac-12 inside passes defensed inside 2022 and was fourth within interceptions. He was to start with-staff members All-Pac-12 within PFF Profile and StatsScouting ReportsBelow are a pair major scouting experiments upon Brugler, The AthleticBACKGROUND: Mekhi Blackmon, who is the oldest of 7 kids, was born inside of Hayward, Calif., and grew up within just the bay nearby. He initially attended Saint Francis Substantial College within just Mountain Look at Chris Doleman Jersey, Calif., in advance of going in the direction of Menlo-Atherton Higher just after his sophomore year. Since of move legal guidelines, Blackmon was pressured in direction of sit out his junior year at his contemporary property. As a senior, he emerged as the supreme getting concentrate upon offense and led Menlo-Atherton in direction of a 12-3 background and the 2016 Section 3-AA place championship sport. Blackmon performed his senior year with 23 receptions for 620 yards and 9 touchdowns, including 54 tackles, 26 passes defended and 6 interceptions as a cornerback. He acquired honorable point out All-Metro and All-Convention honors as a broad recipient. Blackmon additionally performed basketball upon the AAU circuit and at St. Francis still made the decision in the direction of transfer soccer-basically his past 2 seasons at Menlo-Atherton.A no-star recruit, Blackmon wasn't rated via on line recruiting expert services, and he went neglected by means of Section I plans. He was a finish educational qualifier, however lost his junior period considering the fact that he transferred educational institutions location him driving upon the recruiting path. Blackmon determined towards transfer the juco course and signed with College or university of San Mateo as a cornerback. An offensively concentrated participant maximum of his lifestyle, he transitioned toward cornerback total-year inside 2017, primary CSM towards the winningest period inside college or university background. Blackmon performed his just one year at the juco point with 20 tackles and one particular interception. A 3-star juco recruit, he gained notice towards various West Coastline educational facilities, nevertheless Colorado was the 1st in direction of provide, and Blackmon dedicated inside June 2018. When 4 seasons with the Buffs, he took ease of the added yr of eligibility considering that of the pandemic and entered the shift portal for his 6th time. Blackmon thought of deals towards Cal and Utah right before identifying in the direction of be part of Lincoln Riley inside his 1st year at USC. He graduated with his stage inside strategic conversation in opposition to Colorado and is adhering to his find out's level inside gerontology at USC. His cousin was a 6th-spherical extensive recipient within the 2019 NFL Draft out of Fresno Place, participating in 2 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals in advance of bouncing in close proximity to lots of train squads. Blackmon approved his invitation in direction of the 2023 Senior : More than enough tempo athlete and tends in direction of enjoy larger than he looks instinctive and fluid in just his insurance coverage transitions demonstrates the force power in the direction of disrupt receivers early and late is aware sector leverage and takes advantage of the sideline towards his benefit exhibits an instinctive power toward disrupt the capture fact and is generally raking for the soccer commenced toward demonstrate further belief within his downfield physique putting further into the 2022 time previously mentioned-normal operate defender settles his ft and arrives in direction of stability in direction of wrap and inspiration the ball provider doesn't attain bored, and receivers realize they're inside of for a dogfight suddenly endeared himself in the direction of USC : Weighed considerably less than 180 weight at the merge not a technically solid corner turns his hips much too early and can be run off the best of routes delivers up way too a great number of slants and easy inside of wins in the direction of receivers given that he doesn't look towards belief his pedal-and-enthusiasm mechanics grabby at the capture position and attracts flags with his late nervousness common dimensions will present up in opposition to restricted finishes or bigger receivers was banged up in excess of his job and performed inside of double-digit game titles basically after within just 5 FBS seasons; neglected optimum of 2019 given that of year-finishing shoulder medical procedures will be 24 yrs outdated upon draft : A just one-yr rookie at USC, Blackmon was the still left outside the house cornerback in just defensive coordinator Alex Grinch's male-weighty plan. Soon after 4 potent seasons at Colorado, he transferred and was a single of the couple dazzling locations upon the Trojans' 2022 protection, main the Pac-12 inside passes defended. A fluid athlete with typical measurement, Blackmon contains observed a whole lot of soccer, and it exhibits with his anticipation and assurance in the direction of be disruptive within just insurance coverage. Whilst he tends towards perform also bodily, NFL coaches will enjoy his psychological and aggressive longevity at the stage, primarily in just the operate video game. General Trevor Reid Jersey, Blackmon will sacrifice insurance stage and entice flags after he doesn't believe in his method, nevertheless he is instinctive and competitive taking part in the ball inside of the air. He assignments least complicated upon the perimeter with male-towards-gentleman : 5th-6th RoundLance Zierlein, guy-deal with cornerback whose bodily engage in delivers equally passes defensed and implications. Blackmon presents receivers a tough journey previously mentioned the 1st 5 yards, however his extensive grabbing will be significantly less tolerated by means of NFL officers. He's knowledgeable of phasing routes any time matching in opposition to drive, however he doesn't incorporate the hips toward changeover effortlessly at the time actively playing off-person insurance plan. He's gifted at squeezing the capture House and timing his problems, yet Blackmon's absence of dimension and fluidity may perhaps reduce his skilled encounter taking part in outdoors and within the effortless, appropriate strikes into opponent's upper body against in just stage and squeezes limited toward the getting inserting at the time recovering or and adjusts toward deep throws including a large -timed leaps aid him attain in direction of substantial simple limited-hipped in the direction of swivel freely and shadow direction various collect ways toward plant and shift versus his upon get-and-pull security at the supreme of the develop into an unlawful-get in touch with bodies will overtake him upon bounce -common participate in power as a handle finisher.6th-spherical Crabbs, Draft NetworkUSC cornerback Mekhi Blackmon tasks as a plan-different ability at the NFL point. Blackmon illustrates large-finish soccer IQ and is made up of a ton of assurance within just his course level of popularity and course of action. A go in opposition to Colorado, Blackmon took some important strides ahead inside of 2022 and illustrated a readiness in the direction of lead at the NFL position. In the beginning a JUCO solution out of the College or university of San Mateo within just San Mateo, California, Blackmon was a 3-star JUCO recruit. He dedicated toward Colorado as soon as too garnering notice towards Washington Country and San Diego Region. Blackmon relished 4 calm seasons at Colorado in opposition to 2018 throughout 2021 just before shifting in the direction of USC and making the most of a breakout marketing campaign for the Trojans. He is the cousin of prior Fresno Region and NFL extensive recipient KeeSean Johnson. Blackmon turned a beginner for the Buffaloes inside 2020, amassing a handful of begins within just 2019 prior to a shoulder destruction demanded medical procedures and finished his time prematurely. Sturdiness is a little something in the direction of notice, as he ignored number of online games inside 2021 as nicely with "smooth tissue injury."Person, do I which include this gentleman's actively playing structure! Blackmon is an instinctual ability who is guaranteed enjoyable any range of insurance coverage projects, be it within just thrust insurance policies, off-person, or participating in entice insurance policy and zones. He's a sure participant who performs nicely about his excess weight training course, toothere's fearlessness within just his hanging problems and he can take competitive paths towards the soccer. I consideration he did Pretty nicely towards preserve his ideal for very last and just take main techniques in advance in just regularity, exercise, and creation for the Trojans inside 2022 when expending the vast majority of his school job with the Buffaloes and traveling underneath the radar upon account of minimal prospects and toughness things to consider. He's obtained fresh new feetyou view him belief his angles at the line of scrimmage and hop launch towards retain cushion and then turn and bring. He isn't shifting toward bully a large amount of receivers with physicality, nonetheless he continues to be undeterred toward participate in within just your deal with and I concept his switch-and-provide energy was exceptionally Wonderful. Whether or not he's capping routes and plastering again down the course stem or rate-turning in the direction of perform again into the entire body and squeeze upon vertical issues Dontae Fleming Jersey, Blackmon was sticky towards utmost receivers within ball competencies are a substantial additionally with the ball inside of the air as properly. He rakes at the soccer towards pop it immediately into the air if he is enjoying upon the system of a recipient, still inside zone scenarios, he songs the soccer amazingly nicely and produced couple substantial performs upon the ball inside of this that claimed, he isn't a ideal participant, and his measurement and develop are the catalysts of a range of negatives. He can be overcome at days inside the get in touch with window by means of more substantial gamers and that will simply material inside the NFL. His response at moments was towards seize, as evidenced via a hefty amount of flags named versus his coverages. Yet it in addition pops up in just the work video game, where by some groups will come across conflict inside of understanding that he's not bodily and dense plenty of towards glow as an outdoors participant within just thrust-significant packages nevertheless he's too not a superb activity toward handle and fill the D-hole as a function guidance participant in direction of perform inside of the nickel. Some groups may possibly fight in direction of come across assurance inside of a residence for him as a consequence. However there's a person issue that I understand: this person can deal with. Requirements for Blackmon ought to include him actively playing considerable defensive snaps for an NFL franchise within 2023. Blackmon can participate in male, he can perform zone, he's obtained constructive ball abilities, and he can hit. His stature will crank out him a part-unique participant for some groups, still I would anticipate a participant with this form of insurance plan capabilities will be complicated in direction of continue to keep off the market for as well lengthy. Greatest Good reasons towards Acquire Inside of:Higher-stage soccer IQ inside wide variety of coveragesGood ball competencies with the ball within just the airAggressive mindset within just insurance coverage toward cause and attackStriker as a tackler Final Explanations For Issue:Realistic energy is not a huge additionally as a leaner athlete upon the edgeRun-match tackling is nearly anything that may well lessen his power in direction of perform insideStature could possibly be a disqualifier in direction of participating in exterior for some schemesDurability is inside of ponder with superior season forgotten inside of 2 of the ultimate 4 seasons Quality: 76.50/100School FilmUSC HighlightsBreakdown of Mekhi BlackmonUSC Security vs. Notre DameUSC Security vs. UCLAUSC Security vs. UtahUSC Protection vs. Washington StateUSC Safety vs. StanfordFit with the VikingsMekhi Blackmon will contend for a setting up outdoors cornerback undertaking contrary, optimum most likely Andrew Booth Jr. Blackmon is made up of a ton of knowledge and generation inside his faculty vocation at Colorado and USC and experienced the 3rd perfect PFF insurance plan quality and 4th suitable over-all PFF quality amongst cornerbacks inside of school soccer previous time, hence he is as NFL-organized as on your own can be expecting for a beginner cornerback. Blackmon performed predominantly push-male insurance snaps past period at USC, which helps make him a Terrific suit for Brian Flores' insurance plan plan. His scaled-down body is not great as a work defender, however he did quality very well inside of operate security and as a tackler ultimate year at USC. I would not be stunned if Blackmon gained a beginning task this year.