The Minnesota Vikings surprised a lot of NFL draft experts when they made USC’s Mekhi Blackmon a Day 2 selection. The Vikings closed out the third round on Friday by taking Blackmon, a player who received a sixth-round grade from a number of draft evaluators and outlets.
What made the difference for Blackmon, one of the big winners of the draft? His skill set was valued by Viking defensive coordinator Brian Flores — that is certainly one big part of this story — but his collection of skills was also held in high esteem by the Minnesota front office.
Vikings Wire explained:
(h/t Kevin Fielder of Vikings Wire)
“General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s draft history has made it clear that he will prioritize athleticism, particularly acceleration when selecting players,” Fielder wrote.
“Although Mekhi Blackmon didn’t run a blazing-fast 40-yard dash, he did post good splits, headlined by a 1.47-second 10-yard split.
“On the field, Blackmon showcases that same short-area athleticism in coverage. He’s fluid when transitioning in man coverage, allowing him to up with wide receivers, even if they’re often faster than him.
“During the Senior Bowl, Blackmon had a solid rep against Green Bay Packer draftee Jayden Reed and forced an incompletion.”
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