Losing safety Reed Blankenship was tough for the Philadelphia Eagles, as it left a major void at the position entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Eagles already have Andrew Mukuba at one of the safety spots, but a potential competition between Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II has fans worried about the short-term solution at the position. Bleacher Report writer Moe Moton has an idea for Philly in the draft to make a trade with the New York Jets to move on and select Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman.
New York Jets get:Â 1-23, 3-68
Philadelphia Eagles get: 1-16
"Although teams rarely prioritize needs at safety, the Philadelphia Eagles must address the position early in the draft. Philadelphia lost Reed Blankenship in free agency and traded Sydney Brown to the Atlanta Falcons, leaving second-year pro Andrew Mukuba and 30-year-old Marcus Epps as the top safeties on the depth chart. Last season, Mukuba allowed a passer rating of 113, and Epps played a higher percentage of snaps on special teams than on defense. Dillon Thieneman should be able to carve out an immediate role in the Eagles' secondary. With experience in both safety spots and in the slot, he would bring more versatility to Philadelphia's defensive back group. More importantly, Thieneman can force takeaways at a high rate. In his first year at Oregon, he recorded six interceptions. The 6'0", 201-pounder is also a plus run defender who logged 100-plus tackles in his first two collegiate seasons."
Should the Eagles trade up to get Dillon Thieneman, or is that a pipe dream?
Thieneman is a great talent and someone who would instantly start in the secondary for the Eagles. He has been an All-American selection twice in his college career, including his first-team selection last year after racking up 92 tackles, five pass deflections, two interceptions, and one sack.
Here's the problem: the Eagles have so many needs that safety might not be at the top of their list. They still have to address multiple positions, including offensive line, wide receiver, and edge rusher.
If the Eagles wanted to pass on a safety, they might be okay based on what happened last season. When Mukuba got hurt and missed the last month of the season, it was Epps who stepped up and played well, showing he could start if he needed to for Philly.
Plus, everyone in Philly knows that Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is big on building rosters up front first. Offensive tackle seems like the more plausible pick in the first round, or if a really talented receiver drops, then there's a chance they might trade up to get him.
Read more: Jake Elliott better be careful as Eagles might have a replacement plan in draft
Thieneman is going to be a great talent in the NFL, but trading up to get him just doesn't seem like it's realistic, even if the deal makes all the sense in the world.
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