The Philadelphia Eagles have been relatively quiet in free agency this month, despite losing key defensive players. Jaelan Phillips, Nakobe Dean, and Reed Blankenship have all moved on to multi-year deals elsewhere, leaving some gaps in the Eagles’ defense.
Anticipating these departures, the Eagles have already started implementing their backup plans. To fill Phillips' spot, they've brought in Arnold Ebiketie on a one-year contract. For Dean’s role, they’re looking to Jihaad Campbell, who was drafted last year, to step up.
However, replacing Blankenship remains a challenge. With his departure, Eagles fans quickly turned their attention to potential replacements like Nick Cross and Jaquan Brisker. Brisker opted for a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Cross landed a two-year contract with the Washington Commanders, a move that stings given the NFC East rivalry.
The Eagles’ limited cap space contrasted sharply with the Commanders, who had plenty of room to make impactful moves. Surprisingly, Cross’s contract with Washington is valued at $13 million, with $6 million guaranteed-a solid deal for a 24-year-old safety who’s been a consistent starter with the Indianapolis Colts.
Last season, Cross racked up 120 combined tackles, six QB hits, five tackles for loss, five pass deflections, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception. It marked his second consecutive season with 120 or more tackles, following a standout 146-tackle performance in 2024.
While Cross showed improvement in coverage, allowing only three receiving touchdowns and a 99.0 passer rating against, Pro Football Focus gave him a coverage grade of 50.4. In 2024, he allowed six receiving touchdowns and a 109.9 passer rating against.
Blankenship, on the other hand, had a coverage grade of 32.7 last season, allowing two receiving touchdowns and a 100.5 passer rating against. Both Cross and Blankenship were effective in run defense, with grades of 72.0 and 73.9 respectively.
Cross would have been a significant upgrade over Marcus Epps and J.T. Gray, the latter being primarily a special teams contributor. Epps, who recently re-signed on a one-year deal, is currently slated to start alongside Andrew Mukuba.
Cross would have seamlessly fit into the Eagles’ young secondary, joining talents like Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Riq Woolen, and Mukuba. Instead, he returns to his roots in Maryland to bolster a Commanders’ defense that struggled last season, allowing 242.5 passing yards per game, the fifth-highest in the league.
For the Eagles, it looks like the draft will be their primary avenue to address the safety position, with hopes of finding a standout to fill Blankenship’s shoes.