The NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and general manager Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles made moves to shore up some major voids at position groups like edge and cornerback.
But unless a surprising multi-year contract extension is on the horizon, the Eagles’ most underrated storyline on defense appears poised to carry on into next offseason.
Safety Reed Blankenship remains a man without a contract. Per Spotrac, he’s currently playing out the one-year, $3.5 million extension he signed off his rookie deal in 2024. There’s a void year in Blankenship’s contract in 2026, meaning he’s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
Blankenship’s situation remains among the most fascinating for Roseman and Philly’s front office. He’s now the team’s longest-tenured defensive back, and a much-needed veteran presence alongside second-round rookie Andrew Mukuba.
He’s also a former undrafted player who figures to earn a sizable pay bump on his next negotiation.
Bleacher Report tabs Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship among NFL’s top 2026 pending free agents
Extending players early has long been a Roseman staple in Philadelphia; that Blankenship’s deal hasn’t gotten done makes him a prime candidate to at least test the free agent waters in 2026.
Assuming he gets there, Bleacher Report’s Kris Knox predicts he’ll be in high demand, ranking him No. 16 overall on his initial free agency big board following the trade deadline.
“Reed Blankenship has struggled a bit in coverage this season, allowing an opposing passer rating of 118.7 in coverage. However, the Eagles' secondary has struggled as a unit this year. Blankenship, who will turn 27 in March, has been a mostly reliable starting defensive back over the last three seasons.”
Roseman has good reason to let this situation play out. With some monster extensions on the horizon — like defensive tackle Jalen Carter — the Eagles are likely to take another cautious approach to 2026 free agency.
That means, if Blankenship can command the multi-year deal he deserves — somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 million per season — Philly could stand to recoup draft pick compensation via the NFL’s compensatory pick formula; if Blankenship’s market crumbles, which is possible given the position he plays, the door could swing open for him to return on something more team friendly, or even on a one-year prove-it deal.
Read more: Best part of Eagles’ trade for Jaelan Phillips might be what comes next
As it stands, the Eagles need Blankenship, who’s started every game he’s been active for since the start of the 2023 season.