The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t done much during the 2025 NFL offseason to upgrade their secondary, focusing instead on the front-seven as they look to revamp a defense that was downright pitiful last year.
With offseason workout programs in full swing across the league, the Bengals will get their first look at a roster that feels far from complete. And it’s usually around this time of year that front offices tap into unsigned veterans to upgrade weaknesses that get exposed on the grass in June.
One of those unsigned veterans who could get a call from Cincinnati is safety Julian Blackmon, who, despite a productive five seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, remains unsigned as the weeks until training camp melt away.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano, Blackmon would be an ideal fit for a Bengals defense that needs all the help it can get.
“The Bengals need all the help they can get after their defense endured a dreadful 2024 season,” Manzano wrote. “Blackmon can improve the Bengals’ secondary after establishing himself as a quality playmaker in five seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Blackmon is coming off a down season and probably didn’t fit the scheme of new Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, the former Bengals’ defensive play-caller. Perhaps new Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden sees Blackmon as a team fit.”
Rival fanbases wouldn’t mind seeing Blackmon in their uniforms, either.
Browns still have a hole at FS and I want them to sign Julian Blackmon
2024 Stats
– 62 solo tackles
– 3 INTs
– 4 PDs
– 16 GPstill only 27 years old#DawgPound pic.twitter.com/URqWiXsMWj
— 𝘾𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙌 (@clehqsports) April 29, 2025
Blackmon started 16 games for the Colts last season, finishing with 86 tackles, four passes defended, and a 69.3 grade from Pro Football Focus.
Whether or not the Bengals would open their checkbook to pay Blackmon is another story. According to Spotrac, Blackmon’s expected market value is $8 million per season. The longer he remains unsigned, the less likely he’ll come anywhere near that salary, which could put Cincinnati in play later this summer.
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