Colts' training camp roster preview: S Julian Blackmon

Veterans and rookies for the Indianapolis Colts will report for training camp on July 24th, with the first practice taking place on July 25th.

Between now and then I will be previewing the Colts’ 91-man roster with a look back at each player’s 2023 season, along with what’s ahead for 2024.

I’ll be going through the Colts’ roster alphabetically, so up next is safety Julian Blackmon. To stay up to date with our other previews, be sure to head over to Colts Wire.

2023 Season Review

Blackmon put together a career year during the 2023 season, and it came with him spending most of his time playing closer to the line of scrimmage. After playing 173 total snaps in the box from 2020-2022, Blackmon played 468 snaps there in 2023, along with 308 snaps at free safety and 175 in the slot.

Blackmon was able to leave his mark last season in a variety of ways, ranking among the best in PFF’s run-stop rate metric at the safety position while being a very reliable tackler, making 88 of his 95 total attempts. In coverage, Blackmon would record four interceptions and two pass breakups and had a passer rating of only 57.5 when targeted.

“It just fits my role better, it fits my personalty better,” Blackmon said of playing in the box via Colts.com. “I’m more of a talkative person, I like to be around the ball and I like the take the ball away, and so that strong safety position in this defense, specifically, is more of that role. For me, it was kind of easy to move over there and start making those plays.”

Blackmon was a free agent this past offseason and explored outside options, but unable to get the deal he was looking for, Blackmon returned to the Colts on a one-year deal worth $3.7 million with $3.19 million guaranteed.

“I think that it was a lot of trying to take emotion out of it, and take it for what it was,” Blackmon said of free agency. “This is a business first when it came to that point. That’s when it kind of got real for me and I started to understand, I can’t take it personal. Just understand how the market works and how free agency works and how you it can boom or it can crash. And for my position it got a little bit difficult there for a little bit.

2024 Season Preview

The return of Blackmon for the 2024 season was an important re-signing for the Colts, who didn’t make any outside additions this offseason and were in desperate need of some stability at the safety position. The free safety role will be one of the bigger question marks for the Colts entering training camp, with Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas competing for that starting role next to Blackmon.

For Blackmon, his focus heading into the new season is on consistency and not only trying to replicate his 2023 performance but understanding what else he can achieve.

“I think just consistency, man,” said Blackmon when asked what’s next for him. Trying to even ultimately grow more as much as I can. You never got it, that’s what coach always says, and I agree with that. So for me the next thing is just understanding what else I can do. What more can I do and where can I put myself in better situations to make even more plays.”

If Blackmon can find similar success in 2024, it will give the Colts’ secondary a needed boost and also help him earn a bigger contract as a free agent next offseason–whether that be with the Colts or elsewhere. Also, a part of that equation will be Blackmon’s ability to stay on the field. In his first four NFL seasons, Blackmon is yet to appear in every game in a season.

“So for me, it’s kind of one of those things that I do want to finish this out,” said Blackmon. “I want to be one of the guys that can be on the field and reliable and available throughout the whole season. That’s one of those things that’s been on my mind, and I want to do everything I can for this team to take the next step and I think it’s important for me to play all 17.”