Over the next month, there are going to be a lot of teams named as a "good landing spot" or a "best team fit" for them, but Philadelphia Eagles fans really hope that safety Reed Blankenship ignores any that don't involve their team.
Many experts believe the Eagles will find a way to retain Blankenship and bring him back to the team in the offseason. ESPN NFL writer Matt Bowen released his top 50 2026 free agents list, and he has Blankenship at number 32, but has his best team fit being the Arizona Cardinals.
"With safety Jalen Thompson entering free agency, the Cardinals might opt to sign Blankenship to play opposite Budda Baker. Blankenship was with current Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis in Philly during his rookie season, and he's a fit for Arizona's foundational two-high coverages. Blankenship also brings ball production (nine career interceptions with the Eagles)."
Cardinals named best team fit for Reed Blankenship
At least the good part about the Cardinals is that Jonathan Gannon is no longer the head coach, but that team for Blankenship? If the Eagles fan base is going to be okay with Blankenship leaving the team, they would prefer him to go to a good AFC team, not the Cardinals.
Of course, Eagles fans want Blankenship back as he has been the leader of the secondary over the last year, as he stepped up with top veterans like Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson leaving last offseason. While Blankenship's numbers weren't spectacular (83 tackles, four pass deflections, one interception, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 16 games), he's still an important piece to the defense that needs to be brought back.
Rookie second-round pick Andrew Mukuba is coming off breaking his ankle last year, and Marcus Epps is a free agent at safety. Adding that Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell just finished their second seasons in the NFL, Blankenship, by default, would be the veteran of the secondary, and his leadership is needed badly.
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The cost of bringing back Blankenship shouldn't be too high, but the Eagles need to make sure they can keep him in Philly as long as possible, because his best team fit is right where he started his NFL career.