Saints swoop in on potential Panthers target after Tyrann Mathieu retirement

There were thoughts that the Panthers could still add an experienced safety to their revamped defense. One possibility just signed with an NFC South rival.

Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

It’s been an active few days for Dave Canales’s team. The Carolina Panthers have begun training camp. On Tuesday, they surprisingly released veteran inside linebacker Josey Jewell due to the fact that the veteran defender was still experiencing symptom from a concussion suffered last December. General manager Dan Morgan inked former Seahawks’ tight end Tyler Mabry to fill that roster spot.

For the last few months, there has been speculation that Morgan could add someone to the back end of a defensive unit that has undergone plenty of changes. In fact, the Panthers did add a player to their secondary. Earlier on Wednesday, the club signed cornerback Tre Swilling, who appeared in two games with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 and one contest with New York Jets this past season.

It was thought that the team could look at a veteran safety, with names such as Justin Simmons, Marcus Williams, and Julian Blackmon likely candidates. That list went from three to two earlier today as Blackmon inked a deal with the New Orleans Saints. The 2020 third-round pick from the University of Utah by the Colts spent five seasons with Indianapolis. He played and started in a career-high 16 contests in 2024, and over the past three seasons has shown a real nose for the ball.

Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon (32) recovers a ball fumbled by Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. | Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Panthers lose out on potential secondary addition to rival Saints

Dating back to 2022, Blackmon has picked off eight passes, returning one for a score, and also recovered four fumbles. He fills the void left by the recent retirement of star safety Tyrann Mathieu. He spent the past three seasons in the Crescent City, and played and started every game with the club over that span.

Depending on who you ask and who you read, Morgan plans on standing pat with his new-look safety room. The Panthers signed former Raider Tre’von Moehrig, and used a fourth-round pick in April on Ohio State’s Lathan Ransom. Still, Blackmon would have been a nice addition to a team that’s had problems forcing turnovers in recent years. Carolina has a mere 28 takeaways in their last 34 outings dating back to 2023.

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