The Jacksonville Jaguars did a job of addressing needs and revamping the roster in the offseason. Having said that, they could still add reinforcements to a handful of position groups. Safety is one of them, even after signing Eric Murray and using a pair of draft picks at the position. That's led Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report to make an intriguing suggestion.
Moton drew up a list of every move each NFL team should make ahead of training camp and urges the Jags to sign Julian Blackmon, pointing out that their defensive back end could benefit from the safety's versatility and ball skills.
In 2024, the Jaguars gave up the most passing yards and logged the third-fewest interceptions (six)," Moton said. "They signed Eric Murray, but he has only three interceptions in nine seasons. Darnelle Savage has two interceptions over the last three years. Jacksonville needs a game-changer at safety. Julian Blackmon has registered seven interceptions over the previous two terms, and he can play both safety spots.
Blackmon, a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, has spent his whole career with the Indianapolis Colts. He became a free agent last offseason but got a one-year deal to return. He ended up playing 16 games but tore his rotator cuff in the opener, which hindered his performance throughout the season. Specifically, he amassed a concerning 15 tackles, one of the worst figures in the NFL.
With Cam Byrnum and Nick Cross in the mix, Indy has no use for Blackmon, who remains available months after hitting the open market. It probably isn't for a lack of talent. If he's healthy, he will be a competent starter. Heck, Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Media called him one of the best remaining free agents. This begs the question: Could he really help the Jaguars?
The case for and against the Jaguars signing Julian Blackmon
Julian Blackmon may need to settle for a one-year deal at this stage of the offseason. If a team suffers an injury at safety, he would immediately become a hot commodity. But what about clubs that are healthy ahead of the regular season but could still use help at the position? The Jacksonville Jaguars certainly need a boost, but they are not a realistic destination for the veteran free agent.
See, Eric Murray is a viable starter. While he isn't great a making big plays, he's consistent and doesn't get beat deep often. A starting spot is virtually earmarked for him. Darnell Savage, Antonio Johnson, and Caleb Ransaw will probably compete for the other.
Savage was brougth to play nickel last year but moved to safety, his natural position, once Antonio Johnson struggled. He could have the leg up in the battle by virtue of having the most experience of the bunch.
On the other hand, Johnson was underwhelming in his sophomore campaign. He flashed as a rookie but was on and off the starting lineup in 2024. He'll need to prove that last year was an outlier and not the norm. There's also Ransaw, who played corner at Tulane but will be making the transition to safety in Jacksonville.
With the three in the fold, the Jags aren't in need of Blackmon. Sure, he's better than all their non-Murray options, but by signing him, the coaching staff would take away precious reps from Ransaw and Johnson. They need them at this point of their respective careers, and long-term, they may have more upside than Blackmon.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars are figuring out the safety position and may want to see how their in-house options fare before bringing in outside help. If it all falls apart, though, calling Julian Blackmon will be a realistic option.
Here are other Jaguars stories you may also like: