Second-year general manager Dan Morgan has been seeking additional assistance in the secondary for a few weeks. The Carolina Panthers haven't found the right fit for one reason or another, but the need for another experienced presence, especially in the safety unit, cannot be overstated.
And the decisive action of one division rival means going back to an earlier target this offseason is officially off the table.
The New Orleans Saints were rocked by the news that veteran safety Tyrann Mathieu opted to retire on the eve of training camp. This provoked the NFC South club into rapid action, which saw free-agent Julian Blackmon sign on the dotted line just a few short hours later.