According to multiple reports, the Minnesota Vikings are trading third-year cornerback Mekhi Blackmon to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Trade! The #Vikings are sending DB Mekhi Blackmon to the #Colts for a 2026 sixth-round pick, per sources. pic.twitter.com/eeQU6BCnBP
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 26, 2025
This marks the third trade in just a week for Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who has now moved cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, and quarterback Sam Howell — all in exchange for late-round draft picks. With these moves, the Vikings now hold 11 projected selections in next year’s draft, including three expected compensatory picks, giving them valuable flexibility for more potential trades in the coming days.
Blackmon, 26, was selected 102nd overall out of USC in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He impressed as a rookie, logging 434 defensive snaps, breaking up eight passes, and earning a 71.8 grade from Pro Football Focus. However, a torn ACL on the first day of training camp last year derailed his progress, and he’s struggled to return to form in 2025.
During this year’s training camp, Blackmon primarily ran with the second-team defense, consistently trailing behind newcomers Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah on the depth chart. He also appeared to be slipping behind young prospects like Dwight McGlothern and Zemaiah Vaughn, rather than competing for a starting spot. His underwhelming preseason performance further sealed his fate.
Out of 23 Vikings defenders who played at least 30 snaps in the preseason, Mekhi Blackmon was 23rd in PFF grade at 47.4.
That's never a definitive metric, but it hasn't been a super encouraging offseason for the 2023 3rd-rounder coming off an ACL.
CB depth is a big question.
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) August 25, 2025
The Colts are taking a low-risk gamble that Mekhi Blackmon could still develop with a fresh start. Acquiring him for just a sixth-round pick is a minimal cost for Indianapolis, but for the Vikings, it’s a small return on a player they seemingly no longer saw fitting into their plans for the season. In fact, this deal likely prevented Blackmon from being cut on Tuesday. He still has two years remaining on his rookie deal.
For Minnesota, cornerback depth was already a concern before this trade. Outside of Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah is a high-upside option at CB3 but comes with considerable risk. The remaining cornerbacks—Dwight McGlothern, Zemaiah Vaughn, and Ambry Thomas—lack proven experience, making it likely the Vikings will look to add at the position soon.
Fortunately, with 11 projected picks in next year’s draft, they have the resources to make another move.
Updated Vikings picks for 2026 (compensatory per OTC projection):
— 1st
— 2nd
— 3rd
— 3rd (comp for Sam Darnold)
— 4th (comp for Daniel Jones)
— 5th
— 5th (Eagles)
— 5th (comp for Cam Robinson)
— 6th (Colts)
— 7th
— 7th (Texans) https://t.co/HUAiaChPn6— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) August 26, 2025
The Vikings’ flurry of activity this week is just beginning.
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