Vikings Sign Four Draft Picks, Including Mekhi Blackmon

The Vikings have signed four of their six 2023 draft picks, the team announced on Twitter on Friday.

USC cornerback Mekhi Blackmon (third round), LSU defensive back Jay Ward (fourth round), LSU defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (fifth round), and BYU quarterback Jaren Hall (fifth round) have officially signed their four-year rookie contracts. That leaves just USC wide receiver Jordan Addison (first round) and UAB running back DeWayne McBride (seventh round) as the two draft picks yet to sign their deals.

That's not a cause for concern. Although the cost of rookie contracts is determined by where each player was selected, there are other aspects of the deals that can be negotiated, which is why some take longer than others.

The Vikings' rookies are set to take the practice field on Friday for rookie minicamp.

Blackmon and Ward, the team's top two picks on defense, have a chance to compete for immediate playing time in Minnesota's secondary. Both have the versatility to play inside or outside cornerback, while Ward can also play safety. They'll be competing with second-year players like Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth Jr., and Akayleb Evans this offseason.

Roy, a powerful DT, has a chance to to factor into the early-season rotation up front. And although Hall won't be playing this season barring an injury, he might be able to push Nick Mullens for the backup job behind Kirk Cousins.

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