Former Colts’ safety Julian Blackmon unsigned with training camp near

With training camps approaching, one former member of the Indianapolis Colts is ranked among the best available free agents who are still out there.

With training camps approaching, one former member of the Indianapolis Colts is ranked among the best available free agents who are still out there.

All offseason long, NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal has been keeping tabs on the best available free agents. Among those on his current list, with training camps beginning in a little over two weeks, is former Colts‘ safety Julian Blackmon.

Blackmon played through a rotator cuff injury for most of the 2024 season. In fact, the injury forced him to move from strong safety, where he had a career year in 2023, to free safety to help reduce contact.

Compared to that 2023 season, Blckmon’s production took a step back in 2024. In part, that comes with playing free safety, where a player isn’t as close to the action, but one would also think that the shoulder injury played a factor as well.

He finished the year with 84 total tackles, according to PFF. He allowed a completion rate of 65% on 23 targets at 16.8 yards per catch and had three interceptions and one pass breakup.

Blackmon has played his first five NFL seasons with the Colts, appearing in 66 games during that span, which includes 62 starts. He has 10 career interceptions, 21 pass deflections, and 300 total tackles.

A reunion with Blackmon isn’t in the cards for the Colts, but adding veteran help at the safety position wouldn’t be a bad idea. Once you get beyond the Colts’ starters–Nick Cross and Cam Bynum–on the depth chart, there is a lot of inexperience at this position group.

Who are the other best available free agents?WR Amari CooperCB Asante Samuel Jr.DE Za’Darius SmithS Justin SimmonsCB Stephon GilmoreLB Kyzir WhiteCB Rasul DouglasG Brandon ScherffDE Jadeveon ClowneyWR Keenan AllenWR Gabe DavisCB Mike Hilton