New Orleans Saints Free agents are working to sign security Julian Blackmon As a replacement for retirement Tiran MatthewSources told Jeremy Fauler of ESPN.
Sources said that a deal has not been finalized, but the side is in conversation.
The monk has added several several to defend this offsen under the new defensive coordinator Brandon Steel. Security Justin reed The highest-profile was additional, signing a three-year deal at an average of $ 10.5 million at the beginning of the free agency.
A pre -third round pick, Blackmon is still one of the best safari available. He was disappointed in this previous offsen in his market, was returning Indianapolis colts Less than $ 4 million on a one -year deal. His expectations were to improve his obstacles to unload a multier deal due to being a productive season in 2025, but he was knocked on by Labram, a torn in the season’s opener.
26-year-old Blackmon, still managed to play a career-high 16 games, but his performance did not fulfill his expectations. Injury, he said in January, “impressed me a lot.” Nevertheless, with three interception and 86 tackles, Blackman affected the protecting the colts and helped bring some stability to a very young and hurt-affected Indianapolis secondary.
Reid and Matthew were considered to be an early safari in protecting the stale this season. But without Matthew, saints currently do not have much experience in the security room.
Experienced security Jetty gray Mainly plays the role of special teams, Terrail barges Signed in May after Buffalo bill Last year forgiven him from the injured reserve and Ugo amadi The last season was re -signed after starting five games. Third year player Jordan Howen Started two games in the previous season.
Matthew’s departure is also part of a new look secondary, which has lost cornerback Marshon Lattimor (Business Washington Commander) And Paulson Edebo (Signed with New York Giants) in the past year.
Saints coach Kelan Moore said on Tuesday, “This is NFL. It is about adjustment, whether it is personnel or planned.” “So you understand that you have plans and you have to accommodate and I think we have some young players, we get some young players, some people who have been there through the entire offsen process, who have done only one unprecedented work. We are excited by those people and we will continue to evaluate the roster acquisition.”
The cap space available with the monk before Matthew’s retirement was $ 23.8 million.
Blackmon has shown himself a versatile player during his career. He was a cornerback and security in the college, then went into free security for most of his first three sessions. But Colts eventually shifted her to strong security, where she concluded in 2023. The needs of the team inspired the colts to take him back to free security in the last season, a place that could be less impressive in the single-high security system of former defensive coordinator Gass Bradley.
Blackmon has 10 interception and 300 tackle in five sessions.
ESPN’s Catherine Tarel and Stephen Holder contributed to the report.
