The Philadelphia Eagles will have to make some tough decisions in the offseason. Nakobe Dean will be a free agent, and keeping Jaelan Phillips after trading for him should also be one of their main priorities.
Notably, that means that Reed Blankenship might be one of the odd men out. He's also an unrestricted free agent, and he has regressed tremendously this season. However, as much as the numbers and the tape don't back up his case, it seems like defensive coordinator Vic Fangio still has some faith in him, according to Eagles insider Cayden Steele of NJ.
Vic Fangio is Still a Fan of Reed Blankenship
"Vic Fangio on his evaluation of #Eagles safety Reed Blankenship this season: 'Good, very good. He's a stabilizing player in our defense from that standpoint, but yet, I think he's playing his position very well, too,” Steele wrote on X.
While Fangio won't have the final say in roster decisions, GM Howie Roseman would be wise to listen to his input. He's perhaps the most proven and experienced member of the coaching staff, and if he likes Blankenship, that should definitely carry some weight.
Blankenship entered the league as an undrafted free agent, and he became a success story in Philadelphia. He was a fan favorite because of his hard-hitting nature, and perhaps this is just a down year for him.
Still, given the numbers, it's hard to make a case for keeping him around for much longer, especially if that means having to let Dean and/or Phillips walk. His Pro Football Focus grade of 44 ranks 94th among 98 eligible safeties, and that's despite playing the 16th most snaps.
Blankenship has 75 tackles (47 solo), four passes defensed, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one forced fumble in 14 appearances this season (all starts). Those numbers aren't that impressive, but he still has three games remaining in the regular season, as well as the playoffs, to change the perception around him.
His defensive coordinator still has his back and believes he can be a difference-maker out there. The eye test hasn't always backed up that thesis, and the numbers make it appear he's been more of a liability than an asset this season. That being said, he's still a homegrown player who has been good more often than he's been bad, and he has yet to reach his prime at just 26 years old and four seasons in the league.