By Ross Jackson
METAIRIE, La. – After the retirement of starting safety Tyrann Mathieu, the New Orleans Saints quickly added veteran safety Julian Blackmon from free agency. The move was one that appears to have been many years in the making for defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who was hoping to draft Blackmon in 2020 while leading the Los Angeles Rams defense.
Unfortunately for Staley, the Indianapolis Colts beat him to the punch in the third round. Staley still landed a talented safety at No. 40 overall in Terrell Burgess, who was reunited with him in New Orleans, but now Staley has both of his guys.
Blackmon has quickly moved into first team reps and has also shown his impact as a playmaker, skying up for an interception during developmental 7-on-7 drills on day four of camp.
“I would say taking the ball away,” Blackmon said when asked about the strength of his game. “Zone defense, communication… I’m really good at understanding route concepts, just being able to know where the quarterback’s going to go.”
He’s shown exactly that throughout his young career thus far. Blackmon has 10 interceptions over the course of his five-year career with seven over the last two seasons. He brings a ball-hawking personality and skill set that the team is in desperate need of following a season wherein the defense nabbed just three takeaways over the last eight games of the season.
It’s also an element of Blackmon’s game that clearly excites Staley, who expressed during one practice how long he’s been waiting to see Blackmon in the jersey of a team he coaches, make plays.
“It feels good to be valued,” Blackmon said. “You always feel good when you’re wanted somewhere. And to be able to play for a guy that’s been wanting me, it feels great.”
