Howie Roseman rolled the dice this offseason, and the Eagles’ safety room may be the place where that gamble gets judged.
Philadelphia let a handful of veterans leave in free agency, including Jaelan Phillips, Reed Blankenship and Nakobe Dean. Of that group, Sports Illustrated’s Eva Geitheim pointed to Blankenship as the departure that could end up sticking with Roseman through the 2026 season.
“Eagles safety Reed Blankenship was one of the players to leave Philadelphia in free agency this offseason, signing with the Texans on an affordable three-year, $24.75 million deal. What makes the loss of Blankenship tough for the Eagles is they didn’t do much to replace him.
The Eagles also lost Jaelan Phillips, but found a replacement in Jonathan Greenard. Philadelphia lost Blankenship and traded Sydney Brown, but did not draft a safety or bring in any proven ones.”
The contract Blankenship signed works out to about $8 million per year, which makes the deal look manageable. He also wasn’t coming off his strongest season, but he still would have given the Eagles a steady presence at a spot that now looks unsettled.
That uncertainty is already showing up as training camp approaches. Andrew Mukuba is locked in as one starter, while Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II are competing for the other job. Vic Fangio said there are other names in the mix too, and he also noted that Cooper DeJean will line up at safety in “base” defense.
DeJean’s versatility gives the Eagles another option, but it doesn’t change the bigger issue: the starters aren’t fully set yet. Epps handled things well last season after Mukuba went down with an injury, but it was obvious the Eagles still needed more quality on the back end.
Over the past two months, there have been plenty of ideas about who Philadelphia should add at safety through a trade or free agency. Some of those options made sense, but none of them came with the same familiarity with the system that Blankenship already had.
Whether Roseman made the right call will play out over time, but he has built a reputation for making these kinds of decisions at the right moment. For now, Eagles fans are being asked to trust that he’s still steering the roster in the right direction.
In Other News...
Cooper DeJean Had The Perfect Reaction To Phillys Stunning New Arrival
Cooper DeJean did not hide his excitement when word spread around Philadelphia about a blockbuster arrival that instantly changed the citys basketball conversation. The Eagles cornerback has already become one of the more intriguing young defenders on the roster, and his reaction fit the kind of cross-sport buzz that tends to follow any major move in Philly, especially one that has fans talking about what comes next.
For DeJean, the timing also lands as his role with the Eagles continues to evolve. Vic Fangio and analyst Chase Senior have discussed ways to get him on the field even more by mixing in work at safety and slot cornerback, a usage plan that would only increase his value to the defense. If DeJean is already this energized by what happened on the basketball side, the Eagles will be hoping that same energy carries over once the football season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Face A Tough Young Pass Rusher Decision
A preseason injury in Carolina has already nudged the edge-rusher market, and it could create a ripple effect for Philadelphia as teams look for help before the regular season gets rolling. The Panthers are suddenly dealing with a major setback on the outside, which is why the Eagles are being mentioned in the same breath as a possible answer if Carolina decides it needs to add another young pass rusher.
For Philadelphia, the conversation is less about a confirmed move than about how much value it places on a young edge defender who has shown enough to draw outside interest. The Eagles have a decision to make with a player on a manageable contract and a profile that could appeal to a team trying to patch a hole quickly, but any deal would have to make sense for a front office that usually does not give away useful pass rush depth without a strong return. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Johnson Just Got A Major NFL Verdict Despite Lingering Concerns
Lane Johnsons standing around the league remains as strong as ever, even with the kind of late-season injury that usually invites a little more skepticism. FanSideds writers placed the Eagles right tackle ninth on their list of the top 50 NFL players entering the 2026 season, a reminder that his reputation is still built on years of elite play, not just name value.
Johnsons rsum already speaks for itself with six Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro nods and two Super Bowl rings, and he was still performing at a high level before his 2025 season was cut short. The bigger question for Philadelphia is how much more he has left in the tank, especially after a foot issue interrupted what had been another dominant stretch up front. Saquon Barkley and Cooper DeJean also made the list, landing at 23rd and 42nd, respectively. [Read more 🡒]