Indianapolis Colts Should Not Trade This Safety
The Indianapolis Colts can’t trade safeties.
Julian Blackmon is considered a trade chip, but the Indianapolis Colts shouldn’t be dealing with a fourth-year safety.
The Indianapolis Colts could trade for Julian Blackmon before the Oct. 31 trade deadline.
ESPN’s Stephen Holder recently mentioned the fourth-year safety as a potential trade target for another team.
Regardless, it would be in the Colts’ best interest to keep Blackmon.
He is a rising star and one of the best defensive players.
The Indianapolis Colts can’t trade Julian Blackmon.
It is significant as a trading chip
Blackmon is off to a good start this season.
The 2020 third-round pick set career highs with 50 tackles and two interceptions.
He also had three pass breakups and a career-high four tackles for loss.
Although the Colts lost, Blackmon was impressive in the team’s Week 7 performance against the Cleveland Browns.
He always found a way to get to the ball, recording five tackles, two tackles for loss, two pass deflections and an interception.
Blackmon is currently rated as the No. 11 safety in the NFL by PFF.
Once this product is released, more competitors looking to strengthen their defensive formations will be interested in purchasing it.
A team like the Detroit Lions is a perfect landing spot.
Safety CJ Gardner-Johnson suffered a torn pectoral muscle and Emmanuel Mosley was out for the year with a torn ACL.
The addition of Blackmon could help the Lions, who are tied with the San Francisco 49ers for the second-best record in the NFC (5-2), make a deep run in this year’s playoffs.
Trading Blackmon makes no sense knowing he could leave as a free agent after this season.
The Colts could pick instead.
That means you can’t lose Blackmon for nothing.
Safety Nick Cross, who was selected by Indianapolis in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, could replace him.
Why should the Colts keep Blackmon?
Keeping a talented defensive end like Blackmon is a smart move for the Colts.
He is only 25 years old, so he could be a key member of the team for years to come.
Foals especially need secondary care. Dallis Flowers is out for the season with an Achilles injury and rookie Julius Brents is expected to miss more than a week in the loss to the Browns.
The Colts received shocking news when they learned that rookie Anthony Richardson will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
Teams can waive before the deadline and trade veterans for future draft picks, but they must maintain their roster and try to make the playoffs.
The 3-4 Colts are currently in third place in the AFC South behind the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.
No, they’re not a Super Bowl contender, but they still have a good shot at making the postseason.
Indianapolis has the best backup quarterback in the league in Gardner Minshew, who replaced Richardson.
Additionally, the roster includes key players such as Jonathan Taylor, DeForest Buckner, Zaire Franklin and Michael Pittman Jr. Blackmon and K.
The Colts could have an incredible campaign in 2023.