Vikings’ painful mistake is becoming a dream scenario for the Colts

It was a busy offseason for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Minnesota Vikings, but one move in particular puzzled fans more than the rest.

Shortly after their final preseason game, the Vikings decided to cut ties with 2023 third-round cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, trading him to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2026 sixth-round pick.

Blackmon was coming off a lost 2024 season due to a torn ACL suffered during training camp. He wasn’t challenging for a major role in Brian Flores’ defense this past summer, and the team’s decision to move on early hints that the 26-year-old was a candidate to be waived.

Still, the move was surprising to Vikings fans, as Blackmon was expected to fill a depth role for what felt like a thin cornerback group throughout camp. Adofo-Mensah has never been afraid to move on from failed draft picks, but Blackmon was a young, cheap player with only 434 defensive snaps under his belt.

Compounding matters is the situation currently playing out in Indianapolis. Blackmon has not only started the past two games for the 5-1 Colts — he’s been making plays for their secondary alongside former Vikings teammate Cam Bynum.

Indianapolis Colts CB Mekhi Blackmon has more INTs than any Minnesota Vikings player has this season

Blackmon hasn’t exactly been dominating since entering the Colts’ starting lineup in Week 5, but he’s flashing some playmaking ability that’s hard to ignore.

One week after picking off Raiders QB Geno Smith — and coming a toe on the sideline away from scoring a touchdown — Blackmon got his hands on the football again on Sunday, this time intercepting Cardinals backup Jacoby Brissett in the red zone.

Blackmon’s recent uptick in opportunity is due mostly to injuries to Charvarius Ward and Jaylon Jones, and Xavien Howard's surprise retirement, but his immediate impact makes you wonder if the Vikings cut the cord too soon on the former USC standout.

He’s been tested often over the past two games — targeted 15 times, per Pro Football Focus — but hasn’t surrendered a touchdown and is allowing just a 60.5 passer rating in coverage.

The two interceptions in as many weeks have to sting for Vikings fans. Minnesota has managed just two INTs as a group all season — one by safety Josh Metellus, and one by Isaiah Rodgers that was returned for a touchdown.

With veteran Jeff Okudah struggling to make much of an impact, and the cupboard extremely thin behind Rodgers and Byron Murphy Jr., the team’s decision to dump Blackmon after just a 15-game sample size from his rookie season is looking like a legitimate second guess.