Every Philadelphia Eagles fan would tell you the same thing, right now. If this team could make one more notable move, fans would prefer it to be at the safety position.
Going into training camp, the Eagles' safety group is one that doesn't inspire a whole lot of confidence. Specifically, Marcus Epps currently locking down the spot next to Andrew Mukuba is the main worry.
Philadelphia did not do a whole lot to bolster the competition for Epps, despite having some opportunities over the past few months. But they did take a swing on Cole Wisniewski in the seventh round of this year's draft. Now, as camp rolls around, Wisniewski has the chance to turn a position of concern into one of less worry.
Cole Wisniewski has the tools to overtake Marcus Epps in Eagles training camp
The Texas Tech product might have been a dart throw by the time he was drafted, but he does remind some Eagles fans of another recent starter in Philly: Reed Blankenship. And, if he's able to channel his inner Blankenship, then Wisniewski might just create a problem for Vic Fangio during camp.
Fangio seems to like Epps and, as of right now, he's very likely the unquestioned starter alongside Mukuba. Yet, on 250 snaps in 2025, Epps didn't exactly solidify himself as a starting-quality safety.
The sample size was somewhat small, but Epps' inconsistencies were enough to give Eagles fans pause.
Now, as Wisniewski gears up for his first training camp, the best possible scenario for not only him, but the Eagles' defense, is if he comes out and challenges Epps in a legitimate way.
The biggest thing Wisniewski had going for him as a late-round prospect coming out of Texas Tech was his physicality. He is a bigger safety who brings the heat around the line of scrimmage. Wisniewski won't have a problem contributing to the run defense or making tackles in the open field. That's where he excels.
But, one area that may not have been talked about enough is his ability to match up with tight ends. Because of his size and play strength, Wisniewski can easily be matched up with tight ends and handle his own.
This certainly comes into play during a time when the NFL is seeing far more multi-tight end sets being used. We're not just seeing an uptick in 12 personnel, but teams are starting to evolve by using three tight ends a lot more often.
This is where Wisniewski could outshine Epps. The physical differences are massive, as Wisniewski stands three inches taller and weighs roughly 20 pounds more than Epps. When having to take on the George Kittles, Brock Bowers, and Colston Lovelands of this league, Wisniewski is set up far better.
We've established that Fangio likes Epps, and Eagles fans can only hope that camp allows the defensive coordinator to see more of what fans see. We can also hope that Wisniewski does indeed establish himself as a starting candidate, giving Fangio something to think about.
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As of right now, Epps is the starter. But Wisniewski can create a problem for Fangio by showing up and showing out as a seventh-round rookie. In a perfect world, Wisniewski has such a good camp that he winds up overtaking Epps and the Eagles no longer have a glaring problem.
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