New Orleans Saints Add Julian Blackmon To Fill Void Left By Tyrann Mathieu

The Saints didn’t waste any time following the stunning retirement of veteran Safety Tyrann Mathieu, signing ex-Colts safety Julian Blackmon to a one-year deal worth up to $5.5 million, according to reports. The five-year NFL veteran adds upside, production, and versatility to a Saints secondary that was abruptly left with a giant hole to fill. With 10 interceptions and 62 career starts, the 26-year-old joins New Orleans as a probable starter and one of the most experienced defensive backs on the free-agency market.

Terms of the Signing and Blackmon’s History

New Orleans agreed to terms on July 24, a day after Mathieu retired. Blackmon’s is an incentivized deal and one of the pricier short-term contracts agreed to this far into the offseason. He played last season on a $3.7 million contract with the Colts and had attracted other teams’ interest before agreeing with the Saints.

Blackmon was a third-round pick of Indianapolis in the 2020 NFL Draft after an All-American career at Utah, where he was a first-team All-America pick. He has 293 tackles, 10 interceptions, and 21 pass breakups in his NFL career, and has gotten better each year. In 2024, Pro Football Focus ranked him as its 30th-highest graded safety in its rankings, his best to date, as a coverage defensive back and multi-faceted safety with added skills.

A Reaction to Tyrann Mathieu’s Retirement Instantly

Tyrann Mathieu’s abrupt retirement took many by surprise, including the Saints’ management. The “Honey Badger” had restructured his contract early in the offseason and was set to be a veteran staple of the New Orleans secondary. His retirement left a huge leadership gap and on-field presence that the Saints had to replace immediately. The Louisiana native’s decision gave the New Orleans Saints the tough task of closing a void in the secondary; luckily, the Saints found a potential playmaker in short order.

Blackmon was the best available to fill that spot, and the Saints didn’t hesitate. General Manager Mickey Loomis had hinted at reinforcements being brought in previously, but the immediacy of the signing indicates the front office had Blackmon in its sights for a while. It’s a strategic addition, bringing in a player in his prime to replace an aging veteran, adding flexibility and athleticism to the back end.

Impact On Saints’ Secondary

Blackmon’s signing reconfigures the safety battle in New Orleans. Justin Reid will start one safety spot, but Blackmon is an upgrade at the other spot, which had been uncertain after Mathieu’s release. 2023 fifth-round pick Jordan Howden had been penciled in to start, but Blackmon is a far more veteran and polished player at the position.

Defensive Coordinator Joe Woods now has a chess piece to use in several different alignments—deep, in the box, or slot. Blackmon’s athleticism and football acumen will enable him to learn the Saints’ scheme in a flash. Depth is also aided by his presence, with veterans like J.T. Gray and Terrell Burgess able to focus on sub-packages and special teams roles instead of being pushed into the lineup as starters.

Final Thoughts

Blackmon won’t provide the same leadership presence that Mathieu did, but he’s a fresh infusion of energy and ceiling for production that might make him a better on-field asset in 2025. That the Saints could pivot this quickly is a reflection of both their front office preparedness and defensive priorities.

If Blackmon is healthy and can continue his upward trend, New Orleans might have pulled off one of the under-the-radar free-agent acquisitions this spring. With training camp now underway, the acclimatization process of Blackmon to the Saints’ defense will be watched closely—and perhaps determine their playoff destiny.