The Philadelphia Eagles were reportedly involved in the Maxx Crosby sweepstakes, but didn't want to meet the Las Vegas Raiders' asking price, according to NFL reporter Derrick Gunn. Instead, the five-time Pro Bowl EDGE got shipped to the Baltimore Ravens, and the Eagles are fine with that development.
On Friday night, Gunn reported that the Eagles' biggest priority is retaining Jaelan Phillips. That's in line with what ESPN's Tim McManus said as well, believing that Philadelphia will "Make a push to re-sign OLB Jaelan Phillips."
The Eagles want to keep Phillips, but their interest in him will likely lead to the end of Reed Blankenship's time in the City of Brotherly Love.
Eagles' Desire to Keep Jaelan Phillips Could Lead to Reed Blankenship Leaving in FA
Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer also expressed that Blankenship won't return to the Eagles if his market value is $10-plus million. Meanwhile, NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Eagles and defensive tackle Jordan Davis agreed to terms on a three-year, $78 million extension, which includes $65 million guaranteed.
The Eagles want to keep the talent on the defensive line there for the long haul, but that isn't the news that will benefit Blankenship. He's been with Philadelphia since 2022 and was a starter for the last three seasons. While he was solid for the Eagles during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, things went downhill in coverage last season.
According to Pro Football Focus, he finished with a 46.5 overall grade (92nd among 98 graded safeties) and a 32.7 coverage grade (97th among graded safeties).
Blankenship gave up 32 catches (45 targets) for 379 receiving yards and four scores. He consistently looked out of position, and that was in the limelight during the wild-card loss to the San Francisco 49ers. In that loss, Blankenship allowed five catches (7 targets) for 62 yards and a touchdown.
Although Blankenship is coming off a down year, Spotrac is projecting him to get a two-year, $14.3 million deal ($7.2 million per season). While that would put him under the threshold that Philadelphia wants, there's still a chance that a team overpays him, as organizations do in free agency.
Meanwhile, the Eagles gave up a third-round pick to land Phillips, and he played well for them during the second half of the season. In eight games, Phillips had 28 total tackles, four pass deflections, two sacks, and 35 hurries.
Phillips certainly generated pressure, and Philadelphia looks to keep him around. Spotrac believes he'll get a three-year, $52 million contract ($17.3 million per season).
The Eagles want to extend Phillips, but that may come at the cost of Blankenship leaving town in free agency. We'll see if that's a sacrifice that general manager Howie Roseman is willing to make in the coming days.