The Philadelphia Eagles are continuing to navigate free agency, and with that has come an overhaul to the safety position.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Eagles traded safety Sydney Brown to the Atlanta Falcons on Friday in a deal that also included the two teams swapping picks in the fourth and sixth rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. Shortly after the news of the trade broke, Schefter also reported that the Eagles had agreed to terms with Marcus Epps and JT Gray. Epps will be back for his sixth season in Philadelphia.
The deal isn’t surprising considering Brown's struggles last season. The Eagles still have Andrew Mukuba, who started in 10 games last season as a rookie. Epps’ signing is more about depth, but the Eagles still need to find another starting-caliber player if they want to make sure the safety position doesn’t come back to haunt them next season.
Eagles Likely to Add a Safety in NFL Draft Despite Marcus Epps’s Return
The decision to trade Brown continued a renovation in the Philadelphia secondary this offseason. Former starter Reed Blankenship left to sign a three-year, $24.75 million contract with the Houston Texans in free agency, leaving Mukuba as the lone starter at safety. While Epps started four games after Mukuba suffered a fractured fibula and ankle during a Week 12 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, he wasn’t impressive, posting a 56.2 overall grade and allowing all five targets to be caught for 72 yards in coverage in those games per Pro Football Focus, proving he can’t be trusted as a starter.
Moving Michael Carter II to safety could be another option for Philadelphia after he took a surprising pay cut, but his lackluster performance also makes it a bold gamble.
With Andre’ Sam and Brandon Johnson the only other safeties on the roster, the Eagles need to be on the lookout for another safety to fill the void Brown leaves behind. Free agency is one place to start. Former Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson, former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Kyle Dugger and former Tennessee Titans safety Xavier Woods are the top names on the market.
Unless the Eagles want to make a lower-level signing, it could push them toward the draft, which is loaded with strong prospects. NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus mock draft has Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren on the board when the Eagles are projected to be on the clock with the 23rd overall pick. But Philadelphia should have several players to choose from, such as Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman (No. 19), LSU’s A.J. Haulcy (No. 58), and USC’s Kamari Ramsey (No. 73), who are also within reach according to their consensus big board.
It’s part of a defense that may be facing a youth movement with nine picks in the draft after Friday’s trade with the Falcons. There’s a good chance one of those picks will be a safety to help patch the giant hole that has been blasted into the Philadelphia secondary in recent weeks.