In the coming weeks, expect to hear plenty of chatter about where Reed Blankenship might land, but if you ask Philadelphia Eagles fans, there's only one answer: right back in Philly.
The buzz around the league suggests that the Eagles have a good shot at retaining Blankenship in the offseason. ESPN's Matt Bowen recently ranked him 32nd on his top 50 free agents list for 2026, noting the Arizona Cardinals as a potential fit.
Bowen points out that with Jalen Thompson entering free agency, the Cardinals could look to pair Blankenship with Budda Baker. Given Blankenship's history with Cardinals' defensive coordinator Nick Rallis from their time in Philly, and his knack for producing turnovers-nine interceptions with the Eagles-he could slot nicely into Arizona's defensive schemes.
However, Eagles fans might cringe at the thought of Blankenship heading to the Cardinals. They'd much prefer to see him stay put or, if he must leave, join an AFC team instead.
Blankenship has been a pivotal part of the Eagles' secondary, especially after the departures of veterans like Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. His stats from last season-83 tackles, four pass deflections, one interception, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery-might not jump off the page, but his impact goes beyond numbers.
With rookie Andrew Mukuba recovering from an ankle injury and Marcus Epps hitting free agency, the Eagles' secondary could use Blankenship's veteran presence. Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell are still early in their careers, making Blankenship's leadership even more crucial.
The price tag for keeping Blankenship shouldn't break the bank, and the Eagles would be wise to lock him down for the long haul. After all, his best fit is right where it all began-Philadelphia.