NFL Rumors: Julian Blackmon Visiting 49ers After Bills Meeting in 2024 Free Agency

Free-agent safety Julian Blackmon is visiting with the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

Schultz previously reported Monday that Blackmon had a visit on tap with the Buffalo Bills.

The 25-year-old is coming off a season with the Indianapolis Colts in which he set career highs in tackles (88), interceptions (four) and pass breakups (eight).

NFL.com's Nick Shook made the case for the Bills as the most ideal landing spot for Blackmon with Buffalo watching both Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde hit free agency.

"Enter Blackmon, a four-year veteran whose market value should fit within Buffalo's remaining cap space about as snugly as he should in Sean McDermott's defense," Shook wrote.

The 49ers have a similar void with Tashaun Gipson Sr., who started 33 games over the last two years, still unsigned.

For now, Ji'Ayir Brown is tentatively penciled in as the starting free safety alongside Talanoa Hufanga. Brown had 35 tackles and two interceptions as a rookie and his usage climbed in the second half as a result of Hufanga's season-ending torn ACL.

Blackmon also saw his 2023 campaign cut short due to injury, though there was some optimism he'd be healthy in time for the playoffs if the Colts had qualified.

Perhaps San Francisco envisions Blackmon as an immediate starter in the secondary, or it could simply be looking to bolster its depth between Brown's relative inexperience and Hufanga's ACL tear.