49ers bring in breakout Colts safety for visit [report]

The San Francisco 49ers continue to probe the safety market. While both Ji'Ayir Brown and Talanoa Hufanga are under contract, the latter is recovering from a torn ACL, and is more suited to around-the-box responsibilities rather than as a coverage-oriented safety.

Last week the San Francisco Chronicle's Mike Silver reported that the 49ers would be active in a crowded safety market, looking to get something of a bargain for a starting-caliber player. He mentioned Justin Simmons (free agent), Kam Curl (signed two-year, $13 million deal) and Julian Blackmon.

Per Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz , the latter visited with the 49ers Thursday.

While Blackmon may be the least recognizable name on that list, that says very little about his on-field ability. At 24, he is coming off a stellar season with the Indianapolis Colts, featuring a career-high 4 interceptions and 30 stops ( defined here ), which was tied for sixth-most in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.

The former 85th overall pick in the 2020 Draft out of Utah, Blackmon profiles as a far more capable player in coverage than Hufanga, who is not guaranteed to retain his starting job, and could become a situational player in big nickel formations (three safeties), perhaps as a frequent blitzer.

Blackmon was ranked as PFF's 25th-best coverage safety out of 104 qualified players, and allowed a 57.5 passer rating against, which was 12th-best among those safeties. His addition would bolster the secondary at a cost that's unlikely to be prohibitive, and simultaneously keep the group young while adding experience.