NFL Draft: Mekhi Blackmon selected in 3rd round by Minnesota Vikings

USC cornerback Mekhi Blackmon was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Blackmon was the 102nd overall pick.

In his lone season at USC after transferring from Colorado, Blackmon made 66 tackles and grabbed three interceptions. He also recorded one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Sports Illustrated's evaluation of Blackmon: Blackmon primarily lines up on the boundary side of the field, although USC sometimes tasks him with playing strictly one side of the field for the entire game. The California native exclusively played on the outside last season, but he gained experience playing in the slot with Colorado. 

Blackmon has cut down on missed tackles this year and set a new personal best for defensive snaps played by over 200. His arm length and wingspan aren’t elite, but they meet NFL standards. He is experienced in man and zone coverage. Blackmon showcases good awareness and instincts in zone. The JUCO product isn’t afraid of contact. He’s willing to come downhill and tackle running backs one-on-one in space. Blackmon is patient when lined up in press, allowing the route to come to him so he can absorb it. In press, he displays active hands and accurate strikes early in the rep. He is excellent at establishing leverage in the route stem, especially on outside releases. Blackmon squeezes routes along the sideline. He has enough recovery speed to get back into some routes but doesn’t have elite speed to catch burners. Blackmon is quick to drive on short routes and make plays near the line of scrimmage. 

There are flashes of him mirroring routes, but his athletic limitations and inconsistent foot speed keep him from performing consistently in this area. Blackmon is very physical at the catch point and plays above his weight class. When USC played Stanford in 2022, Tanner McKee threw a 50-50 ball in the end zone to his top target Elijah Higgins, who is unofficially listed at 6'3", 234 lbs. Blackmon had the coverage. He fought to establish inside leverage on the much larger Higgins, beat the Stanford receiver to the football at the catch point, and tipped the pass to himself for an interception. Blackmon also broke up a one-on-one end zone shot against Utah (2022) when Cameron Rising targeted 6'5", 205 lb. wide receiver Devaughn Vele. 

Blackmon is an older prospect who suffers from penalties. He drew four flags in 2021 and seven during the 2022 regular season, including three against Stanford and two against Utah. Blackmon is aggressive in press coverage but becomes grabby at times. Despite his physicality, Blackmon gets pushed around a lot because of his weight. Receivers can play through him or block and displace him in the running game. Even UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson sent him flying four or more yards downfield on a block when the two teams met in November (2022). 

Blackmon lacks the play strength to shed blocks and set the edge consistently. He suffers from several physical limitations, including his thin frame, lack of elite speed and twitch, and some tightness in his hips. Blackmon’s footwork appears hoppy at times, which leads to occasional balance issues. Receivers tend to separate from Blackmon at the top of their routes on curls and comebacks. They also generate separation on inside releases when Blackmon is a little late to get his hips around. Releases that start outside before cutting inside create issues for Blackmon’s agility. He doesn’t always get his head around for the football when carrying receivers vertically.