While everyone's attention has been on whether the Philadelphia Eagles could re-sign edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, there's another key defensive starter who needs some attention: safety Reed Blankenship.
Since 2023, Blankenship has been an important starter in the secondary and has taken on a more leadership role over the last year, working with young corners and rookie Andrew Mukuba. Now that he is a free agent, it has become a tough decision for the Eagles on whether to bring him back. Bleacher Report writer Alex Kay believes Blankenship's best fit is the team he's played on his whole career, with a projected three-year, $20 million contract.
"Remaining in Philadelphia could be in the best interest of both the organization and Blankenship. The Eagles helped cultivate Blankenship into a top defensive back and know how important he is to their defensive efforts. He's come up with a slew of big-time plays in clutch situations, making key tackles or coming up with game-changing turnovers at opportune moments. While he's not an elite cover man, Blankenship's motor, intelligence, versatility and playmaking more than make up for his coverage lapses. Philadelphia knows how to get the most out of him while hiding his weaknesses, making a long-term deal to stay the best option for each party."
Reed Blankenship still the best fit for Eagles in 2026
If the Eagles are able to land Blankenship on a $20 million, three-year deal, that would be a big win for Philly, as they get their starting safety back for multiple years without breaking the bank. Blankenship would most likely help the Eagles with a team-friendly deal, not leaving the franchise that took a chance on him as an undrafted free agent.
The team does need to see some improvement from Blankenship, though, as he took a slight step back in 2025 compared to his 2024 campaign. He finished last year with 83 tackles, four pass deflections, one interception, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 16 games. His coverage stats were the second-worst of his career, allowing a 68.4% completion percentage from opposing quarterbacks and a passer rating of 100.5.
Read more: Jaelan Phillips's best fit in free agency is exactly where Eagles fans think it is
This isn't meant to be a complete knock on him, but there is a reason he is looking at a $6.67 million per year deal: there are aspects of his game that need improvement. That said, the Eagles should bring him back to give the secondary a veteran to lead the young players like Mukuba, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean.