The Philadelphia Eagles had every reason to walk away from soon-to-be free agent safety Reed Blankenship. While the veteran is a Super Bowl champion and had many great moments in an Eagles uniform, there is no denying the playoff fumble Blankenship gave up. After George Kittle exited the wild-card round matchup, all the Eagles needed to do was keep up with the two playmakers that can hurt you, with Christian McCaffrey being the number one option on this list.
Blankenship lost track of the back on a deep touchdown pass that would ultimately decide the game and give every reason for the Eagles to consider a fresh start. Instead, it seems the Eagles have Blankenship high on their priority list of offseason targets. In season-ending interviews, NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark reported that "Howie Roseman says there are players they can’t lose. Players they have drafted and are homegrown. And he says you have to make sacrifices to keep those players."
When you consider Philly's upcoming free agent class, it is impossible not to read between the lines that Blankenship is considered a piece of this sentiment. Nakobe Dean and Dallas Goedert are the only other possible fits for Roseman's words, with both players having a clear argument as vital pieces to their respective sides of the ball. Regardless, the door is now open once again for the safety to return to the Eagles in the 2026 offseason.
Eagles GM Howie Roseman Opens the Door to Potential Blankenship Re-Signing
Blankenship did have a handful of nice moments over the last year, finishing the 2025 season with 66 tackles and a lone interception. However, it is notable that the defender has a Pro Football Focus rating of 46.5 and allowed a passer rating of 111.4 when targeted. Both of these numbers show a clear regression from a player who was previously considered a building block for Vic Fangio's defense.
While this paints a bleak picture, the Eagles could have a chance here to buy low and rebuild the confidence of a previously productive player. It isn't as if the Eagles didn't go on a dominating 2024 Super Bowl run with Blankenship starting in the defensive backfield.
A return could make sense if Philadelphia can sign the defender to a deal including team-friendly terms. This would make Roseman's words make a bit more sense if they do apply to the struggling safety.
While the focus for the Eagles remains on the search for a new offensive coordinator, how Philly chooses to navigate the departure of the safety is quietly an important piece of the puzzle. Philadelphia's defense has carried the team over the past two seasons, and losing Blankenship does create a clear void if the defensive back is allowed to walk away.