NFL: Chicago Bears anticipate adding a safety from the Indianapolis Colts in 2024
Adding a competent safety is just one of the many things the Chicago Bears need to work on in the offseason. Thankfully, Julian Blackmon of the Indianapolis Colts is a prime free agent that they can target.
After this 2023 season, Blackmon will become an unrestricted free agent, and the Bears have every incentive to pursue him. He was even described by Bleacher Report as the perfect free agent addition for the Windy City team.
Eddie Jackson isn’t doing well in Chicago—he only has 27 combined tackles and one interception—so the Bears might be ready to let him go by bringing in Blackmon.
Blackmon has 88 total tackles for the Colts, five tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, and four interceptions. In addition, he is only 26 years old, whereas Jackson is 30 years old.
The Bears could really use someone to improve their defense, which ranks in the bottom half of the league. Blackmon might prove to be a huge asset for them.
Although Blackmon has performed somewhat better than free safety this season, he is still able to line up in both positions. In addition, Pro Football Focus gave him a favorable grade in coverage this year, and as of this past weekend, he had a 53.3 passer rating when targeted, according to an article in the Bleacher Report.
Additionally, signing Blackmon could persuade Jaylon Johnson, an upcoming free agent, to remain in the area. Johnson is a teammate of Blackmon from college and will only be 26 years old next season.
Whether the Chicago Bears will pursue Julian Blackmon is still up in the air. They do have other important issues to take care of, but since they are expected to pick first in the 2024 NFL Draft, they may want to start by taking care of their quarterback situation.
They may not prioritize improving the defense because they also lack support at wide receiver and other offensive positions.
The Chicago Bears May Be Concerned About Julian Blackmon’s Injuries
The Chicago Bears’ interest in pursuing Julian Blackmon may be tempered by the player’s recent injury. Due to a shoulder injury, the safety has been placed on the Injured Reserve by the Indianapolis Colts, thus ending his season with the team.
Although Blackmon’s injury in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons is not known to be severe, it had to be significant because he had to be placed on injured reserve.
The Bears’ interest in Blackmon may or may not change based on his health in free agency.
