Colts May Lose Key Defender to AFC Foe
The Indianapolis Colts have made multiple moves during the NFL's free agency period. While re-signing notable stars like wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and corner Kenny Moore II was important, so was potentially keeping strong safety Julian Blackmon after a career-defining 2023 season. However, per NFL Insider for Bleacher Report Jordan Schultz, there's a chance that the Colts won't have Blackmon on the roster for the 2024 season.
Schultz posted on X:
"Free agent safety Julian Blackmon is headed to Buffalo for a visit with the #Bills, sources tell @BleacherReport. Blackmon has several suitors after enjoying a career season with the #Colts, which included 4 INTs."
Blackmon missed the final two games of 2023 with a shoulder injury. But, up to that point, he was playing lights-out defense. In 15 games, Blackmon posted career-bests in tackles (88), interceptions (4), passes defended (8), and tackles for loss (5). The interceptions led the Indy defense, and Blackmon was a constant on the field, often acting as the key communicator in the secondary.
Blackmon's fit for the Buffalo Bills makes sense. But it also does for Indy to retain him. Given that Blackmon is a strong safety, it leaves Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas II as the free safeties. While Cross showed some signs of why Indy traded up to obtain him, Thomas displayed in 2023 that he may be nothing more than a backup. Indy still has Daniel Scott as an option at safety if he can avoid another injury like the ACL tear that ended his 2023 rookie season before it could begin. Outside of these names, there is recently converted linebacker Ronnie Harrison Jr., who originally was a safety and played minimally in that role in 2023.
It will be interesting to see how the Colts approach potentially retaining Blackmon and how his visit with the Bills goes. Buffalo needs a safety to added to their roster, but Indy also needs the same thing. For the Colts to still have over $23 million in cap space and not retain Blackmon would be a negative. Could it be that Blackmon is asking for more than Indy wants to pay? All eyes are still on Chris Ballard as Indianapolis gets through free agency.
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