The New Orleans Saints faced a sudden blow when three-time Pro Bowl safety Tyrann Mathieu retired at age 33 on Tuesday. To fill the void in their defensive backfield, the Saints immediately moved to sign Julian Blackmon, a former safety with the Indianapolis Colts, according to NFL Media. This Julian Blackmon Saints signing aims to strengthen New Orleans’ secondary ahead of the upcoming season.
Julian Blackmon’s Performance and Injury History
Blackmon, who extended his contract with the Colts last season, appeared in a career-high 16 games despite battling a shoulder injury. He amassed 86 combined tackles, four passes defended, and three interceptions during that time. Over the last two seasons, Blackmon has shown increased ball skills, recording seven interceptions after only three in his first three NFL years.
A third-round pick from Utah in 2020, Blackmon has struggled to stay fully healthy throughout his career. His rookie campaign was interrupted by an ACL tear suffered during the 2019 Pac-12 title game, and he later tore his Achilles tendon during the 2021 season. Despite these setbacks, in his 66 career games, Blackmon has accumulated 300 combined tackles, 21 passes defended, and 10 interceptions.
The Safety Group Joining Forces in New Orleans
Blackmon will join a Saints safety unit led by recently acquired free agent Justin Reid, third-round draft pick Jonas Sanker from Virginia, and Jordan Howden. Last season was a tough one for New Orleans; they finished with a 5-12 record, their worst since the 3-13 season in 2005. Injuries severely impacted the team, and their defense allowed an average of 379.9 yards per game, ranking third-worst in the league.
The Saints also made NFL history by becoming the first team to lose seven consecutive games after starting the season 2-0 with back-to-back wins by 20 or more points. Adding Blackmon to the secondary is part of the organization’s efforts to rebuild and improve defensive consistency moving forward.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What are Julian Blackmon’s weaknesses?
A. He struggled significantly in stopping the run, earning a low grade of 48.1. This might be an issue alongside Moehrig, who naturally plays as a deep-field free safety.