There are a lot of starters who are going to be hitting the free agency market for the Philadelphia Eagles, but safety Reed Blankenship has the most questions around him.
Blankenship's market interest will be fascinating to track, and whether the Eagles are willing to pay up to bring him back. There will most likely be mutual interest on both sides, but it will be interesting to see whether he actually stays in Philly.
Bleacher Report writer Alex Kay shared his thoughts on Blankenship, as he named him the best defensive back in free agency. Kay thinks Blankenship will be back with the Eagles in 2026.
"Staying in the City of Brotherly Love would be a great move for both Blankenship and the Eagles. The franchise clearly understands the value he brings to the team, as he has been an instrumental part of the defense throughout his tenure.
While he may not be the most athletic or dynamic player, the Middle Tennessee product has consistently come up with big tackles, interceptions and pass breakups that have won the Eagles several close games. He's a versatile talent who brings plenty to the table and won't break the bank to retain for several more years."
Will Reed Blankenship be back with the Eagles in 2026?
Given the current safety situation, the only viable option to start with is Andrew Mukuba, who is recovering from the broken ankle he suffered late in the season. The Eagles would have to either re-sign Blankenship or Marcus Epps to be the other starter at safety.
If Philly can find the money, it makes sense to bring back Blankenship and have him in the lineup. He stepped up in a big way in 2025, taking on a more leadership role on defense as so many veterans like Darius Slay, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Josh Sweat departed in the offseason.
While there were some noticeable regressions in Blankenship's coverage at times this season, he always has the ability to bounce back and come up with a big play when it matters most. The Eagles can always trust him to help the team out when they need it the most.
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Stats aside, Blankenship is an important piece of this defense, which is about to undergo some transformations with the unit's coach, Joe Kasper, and the search for a new CB2. The Eagles don't need to overcomplicate this; they just need to get a deal done with Blankenship before he hits the open market.