Coming off a disappointing season, the Philadelphia Eagles made big changes to their secondary. One of the biggest was the departure of Reed Blankenship, who left Philadelphia to sign a three-year, $24.75 million contract with the Houston Texans.
The move was disappointing for Eagles fans as Blankenship became a fan favorite in Philadelphia. But as he walks out the door, the team has to figure out a way to move on. The safety position as a whole underwent a facelift in addition to Blankenship’s departure, but it has the chance to give the Eagles multiple benefits in the end as they look to return to contention for another title in 2026 and beyond.
Youth, Flexibility Key Benefits for Eagles After Reed Blankenship’s Departure
Blankenship has been a solid contributor through his four seasons in Philadelphia, but last year was a rough patch for the former UDFA. While he made 83 total tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception, four pass defenses, and a fumble recovery, it wasn’t the same amount of big plays as in the past, and Pro Football Focus was one site that took notice.
While his overall grade dropped for the fourth straight year, the 2025 campaign was the most dramatic decline as he posted a 42.6 overall grade on 1,068 snaps. Blankenship also allowed 32 catches for 379 yards and four touchdowns with an interception, a pass breakup, and two penalties in coverage. It was a tough year for a player looking to earn a contract.
Blankenship got paid in the end, but it wasn’t in Philadelphia. While fans may question the move, it also could help the Eagles retain their core as they look for big-money extensions down the road.
Jalen Carter is the biggest name in the group, as Spotrac estimates a $21 million per season market value on his next contract. But the Eagles have similar decisions to make with Moro Ojomo and Nolan Smith ($14.1 million projection). Looking further down the road, cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell could be eligible for contract extensions next offseason, and the Eagles may have to pick and choose which players stay as they move forward.
The Eagles have had success with letting players walk before, including edge rusher Josh Sweat and offensive guard Mekhi Becton in last year’s free agent class. And that’s also something they should consider as they get new blood into the secondary position.
Andrew Mukuba was a second-round pick by the Eagles in last year’s draft, and Blankenship’s departure should clear the path for him to play more. While he made his share of mistakes, he found a groove before suffering a season-ending injury last December and should benefit from having a starting role entering this year’s campaign.
The decision to let Blankenship walk also comes with solid timing. This year’s safety class is deep and could see the Eagles tap into one of nine prospects listed within the top 100 spots on NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board. While five of those prospects (USC’s Kamari Ramsey, Arizona’s Genesis Smith, South Carolina’s Jalon Kilgore, TCU’s Bud Clark, and Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley) are third-round prospects, it could help the Eagles field a deeper and cheaper safety room next season.
The combination of flexibility and youth makes Blankenship’s departure palatable. But the Eagles must make the right moves to validate it on the field, which is the next challenge for general manager Howie Roseman.