The Indianapolis Colts have been putting a lot of effort towards rebuilding their defense after a miserable 2024 season, but there is one player whose fate is still up in the air. Currently a free agent, Blackmon has not been signed - not by the Colts or any other team. That is something that just makes no sense, and Blackmon deserves a training camp invite - if not from the Colts, than with someone else.
ESPN's Matt Bowen ranked Blackmon as the 12th best free agent still available:
"Blackmon had three interceptions in 2024, and he has seven over the past two seasons. There's post and deep-half range on his tape, which fits in every system. He also has 85-plus tackles in each of the past two seasons."Matt Bowen
The problem is, with the signing of Cam Bynum, Blackmon seemed to be already on the way out with the Colts. The biggest issue he's had has been an inability to stay healthy, but he has still been able to play the majority of each season over the past few years. And he's been a solid, reliable defender - yet evidently, not good enough for the Colts to nail him down with a new, multi-year contract, which is seemingly what Blackmon is looking for.
If the Colts aren't going to take advantage of what Blackmon has to offer, there is no doubt that other teams are interested. There has been a ton of buzz surrounding Blackmon going to the Carolina Panthers or the Philadelphia Eagles, or with other landing spots like the Baltimore Ravens having been floated.
Frankly, it makes no sense that Blackmon hasn't been signed by anyone. He was named one of the best free agents earlier in the offseason, and is one of the few to still be unsigned. Blackmon should be given a chance to prove himself in training camp somewhere, and who knows? At this rate, with no one having signed him, he could end up making a return to Indianapolis after all. There is still some decent need for more depth at safety, and this late in the offseason, he could potentially come back for a bargain.
At the very least, Blackmon deserves the chance to prove himself in training camp somewhere.