Vikings Trade Disappointing Cornerback

The Minnesota Vikings have to trim their roster to 53 by Tuesday at 3 PM CDT, but they’ve been whittling it down early where possible. Monday evening, it reached 76 players via trade.

Just after 7 PM, news broke that cornerback Mekhi Blackmon has been traded to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2026 6th round draft pick.

The #Vikings have agreed to terms on a trade that will send CB Mekhi Blackmon to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2026 6th-round pick. pic.twitter.com/nTqNid3WQh

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 26, 2025

Blackmon, who the Vikings selected in the 3rd round of the 2023 NFL draft, played in 15 games as a rookie, even getting the start in three. He finished his first NFL season with 41 tackles, 1 interception and 8 passes defended.

Why did the Minnesota Vikings trade Mekhi Blackmon?

Heading into 2024, hopes were very high for the second-year cornerback out of USC and Colorado. He looked good during summer workouts and early during training camp too. Then, he tore his ACL and sat out all of 2024.

When he returned for training camp 2025, the now 26-year-old version of Mekhi Blackmon just hasn’t been the same guy. Throughout camp, you could tell that Blackmon was in jeopardy of missing out on the final 53-man roster.

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Newcomers in the secondary like Jeff Okudah and Isaiah Rodgers were getting all the first team reps in practice, over Mekhi. During preseason games, they were getting the starter treatment, while Blackmon was playing deep into the second half of exhibition games.

In all likelihood, Mekhi Blackmon was not going to make the Minnesota Vikings’ 53-man roster, which is why they probably feel elated that they got another late round draft pick, in return.