The New Orleans Saints faced a significant blow on Tuesday when three-time Pro Bowl safety Tyrann Mathieu announced his retirement at the age of 33. Quickly acting to fill the gap, the Saints signed former Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon, as reported by NFL media.
In the previous season, Blackmon secured a one-year extension with the Colts, tallying 86 total tackles, four pass deflections, and three interceptions despite battling a shoulder injury. Over the past two seasons, Blackmon has improved his interception count, recording seven picks after only three in his first three NFL campaigns.
Blackmon, selected third overall from Utah in the 2020 draft, has yet to complete a full season due to injuries—including an ACL tear in the 2019 Pac-12 championship game and an Achilles injury during a practice in 2021. However, he achieved career highs last year in the 16 games he played, with 300 tackles, 21 pass deflections, and 10 interceptions.
Joining the Saints, Blackmon will be part of a safety group led by veterans such as Marcus Williams and Jordan Poyer, along with free agent addition Justin Reid and third-round pick Jonas Salk. The Saints concluded last season with a 5-12 record, marking their worst record since the 3-13 run in 2005.
The 2024 season was marred by injuries for New Orleans, which became the first NFL team to lose seven consecutive games after scoring over 20 points in their first two matches. The defense struggled, allowing an average of 379.9 yards per game, ranking third highest in the league.
Fan Take: Tyrann Mathieu’s retirement marks the end of an era for the Saints, but bringing in Julian Blackmon offers hope for strengthening their secondary. NFL fans should watch closely as this move could be pivotal in the Saints’ efforts to rebound from a difficult season and restore competitiveness to their defense.
