ESPN’s Kevin Seifert believes the Vikings want to move Byron Murphy to the slot whenever the opponent is lining up three wideouts, leaving two outside cornerback spots up for grabs. The candidates are numerous: Last year’s starter Akayleb Evans, free agent addition and 2019 Pro Bowler Shaquill Griffin, sophomore Mekhi Blackmon, and 2022 second-rounder Andrew Booth. Seifert mentions their individual problems and notes Jackson’s chance to see the field.
Free agent acquisition Shaquill Griffin, whom the Vikings fully guaranteed $3.99 million, would seem to have the edge for one spot. Akayleb Evans started 15 games last season but endured two in-game benchings. Mekhi Blackmon made three starts as a rookie but had his ups and downs over 435 snaps, and 2022 second-round pick Andrew Booth Jr. (256 snaps in two seasons) might be down to his final chance.
All of which gives rookie fourth-round pick Khyree Jackson a legitimate chance for significant playing time if he can put together a strong spring and summer. Jackson would be one of the NFL’s tallest cornerbacks at nearly 6-foot-4, but senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Grigson said: “The way he drops his weight and his hips, and just his footwork, it’s just not ordinary.” Grigson added: “We think he could be a hell of an outside corner.”
Kevin Seifert, ESPN
Jackson has already had a lengthy career journey. He began his collegiate career at Arizona Western College but grew homesick and quit. He was away from school and football after moving back home to Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
He didn’t play football for two seasons. Jackson then restarted his career and college journey at Fort Scott Community College before transferring to East Mississippi Community College, the famous Last Chance U school. Unfortunately, the 2020 season was canceled, but he was still ranked the nation’s top JUCO recruit and committed to Alabama, where he spent two seasons as a backup but suddenly started in the national title game versus Lewis Cine’s Georgia Bulldogs. His final stint led him to Oregon in the 2023 season, a year in which he showed wonderful development.
The Vikings drafted him with the 108th pick, but Jackson thinks he was the best CB in the draft. According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson played in 13 games last season and was targeted 38 times. He allowed only 19 catches for 200 yards and one touchdown while grabbing three interceptions, scoring a phenomenal passer rating of 41.6 when targeted.
He has an intriguing length of 6’4″, which will undoubtedly be a nice change compared to his smaller teammates. At age 24, Jackson is one of the older rookies (he will turn 25 in August), but unlike many other older prospects, he still has a ton of untapped potential, and technical refinement is crucial for his development. Still, his size and strength are fascinating, and the questions surrounding the other cornerbacks on the roster give him a chance to make the 53-man roster and carve out an immediate role in the secondary.
Jackson is a name to watch in Vikings training camp.
