Last month, safety Julian Blackmon paid a visit to the San Francisco 49ers and was allowed to go without a contract.
According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, Blackmon re-signed with the Colts on a one-year contract, dashing their chances of landing one of the best safeties available.
Blackmon just had a career year in 2023, setting career highs with eight pass breakups, four interceptions, and five tackles for loss.
According to Sports Info Solutions, which ranked Blackmon as the fifth-best safety in the NFL by Expected Points Added allowed per target, his passer rating against of 28.8 was the best in the league among safeties with at least 20 targets the previous season.
Blackmon appears to have the best years of his career ahead of him, considering he is still only 25 years old. The 49ers had the opportunity to acquire him and bolster their depth at a position where they lack any strong alternatives to their starters because of a dormant safety market.
Ji’Ayir Brown only appeared in five regular-season games in 2023, despite having a very promising rookie season that culminated in an interception in the 49ers’ loss in Super Bowl 58. An All-Pro in 2022, Talanoa Hufanga recently had his ACL torn in Week 11 of the previous season.
Because of this, excellent play at the position is far from guaranteed, and the 49ers would be in a tough situation if either player was hurt.
Not always a virtue is patience
When Blackmon was in town for his visit, the 49ers informed him that he would not be assured a starting position, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic.
Although the 49ers were correct to be upfront with Blackmon, it may have been a mistake not to try harder to get him on board and find a job that would fulfill him.
Since players like Justin Simmons,Quandre Diggs, and Micah Hyde are still available, general manager John Lynch stated during the annual league meetings that the 49ers can be patient in building their depth at safety.
But they could have lessened the impact of Hufanga or Brown underperforming or getting hurt by signing a rising player at an undervalued position of necessity.
League perception of Blackmon may not be entirely accurate given how long he was on the field. Still, his metrics are really good. However, there are rarely many opportunities to sign a young player fresh off a career season to what would have been an inexpensive contract.
While there is no doubting the value of veterans like Simmons and Diggs, their careers are in decline compared to Blackmon’s. If Blackmon had been signed, the 49ers would have had three players, all under the age of 26, in a position that is often underappreciated by the league.
One basket holding all of their eggs
With a safety like Blackmon in their defensive backfield, San Francisco would have had much more flexibility in how they set up their coverage looks. Additionally, with Hufanga entering a contract year, the 49ers would have had more alternatives at the position the following year.
Rather, they seem to be putting all of their eggs into one basket, at least for the time being, and counting on Brown and Hufanga to be healthy and fulfill their clear promise as a safety tandem, which makes extending their 2021 fifth-round pick an easy choice.
The Niners didn’t really need to take the gamble, but there are many reasons to think their faith will be rewarded. In any case, they may have chosen to prolong Hufanga, but acquiring Blackmon would have provided them with an additional long-term option should he establish himself as the more reliable starter in 2024.
It’s reasonable to ask if the 49ers may someday regret not retaining Blackmon in the building and signing a guy whose arrival would have instantly allayed any concerns about their safety depth. Sometimes it’s the decisions you don’t make.