The Philadelphia Eagles' 2025 campaign has been up and down in terms of injuries and storylines. One that has been at the forefront dating all the way back to the NFL Draft has been the starting safety spot beside Reed Blankenship.
Rookie Andrew Mukuba beat out Sydney Brown for the job, but his season-ending injury opened a void that Brown couldn't fill. Instead, Marcus Epps stepped into the starting lineup as soon as he was activated from IR in Week 14.
Epps isn't getting national recognition, but he's a familiar face for Eagles fans and is really making his case for a new contract this offseason.
Marcus Epps Is Playing His Way into a New Deal with the Eagles
Epps wouldn't cost much to bring back on a one-year deal this offseason, considering that he has history with the team, spending five total seasons with them. Not only that, one presumed starter at safety for the 2026 season will be Mukuba, as Reed Blankenship will also be a free agent. Even if the Eagles bring him back, they still need depth, and that's where Epps could be a low-cost answer.
He's started the last two games for Philadelphia, and while he's only secured four total tackles, he hasn't been noticeable, and that's a good thing. The biggest area where Epps stands out is his ability to be a sound tackler in the open field. On Pro Football Focus, he has an 86.9 tackling grade, as he hasn't missed a tackle all season long.
The same can't be said for Brown, as he owns a 56.3 tackling grade on the year, missing three tackles (17.6%) this season. There's a reason the Eagles moved Brown back to the bench after one game, and that's because of what Epps can bring to the field. Not only has Epps been better as a tackler, but he's also steady across the board.
Category | Marcus Epps | Sydney Brown |
|---|---|---|
Overall | 64.1 | 54.3 |
Coverage | 62.8 | 54.5 |
Run Defense | 61.3 | 57.6 |
Tackling | 86.9 | 56.3 |
It's important to note that Brown only started one game after being a rotational piece prior, and his reckless play warranted being moved back to the bench. Although Epps hasn't exactly been an All-Pro back there, he provides Philadelphia with a higher floor as a run defender and coverage guy.
Over 64 career games with Philadelphia, he's made 27 career starts, compiling 218 total tackles, 15 pass deflections, and three interceptions. While his sample size has been small in 2025, Epps is a player who will start for the remainder of the season and into the postseason.
Something that has gone under the radar is Epps' attitude in striving for greatness, too. Cornerback Cooper DeJean revealed that Epps was the player who talked about holding the Las Vegas Raiders to under 100 total yards. Having a player who is constantly looking to dominate the team on the other side is massive and gives them an edge on the field. They are looking for perfection, and Epps made it his mission to challenge his teammates to achieve that goal. And they did, as the Raiders finished with 75 total net yards.
If he continues to be a stable player in the backend, it'll make it an easy decision for the Eagles to bring him back, especially since Mukuba will be coming back from a season-ending injury, and Blankenship could sign elsewhere as a free agent. We are still ways away from the Eagles having to make that decision, but from what Epps has shown, he's making the decision easy for Philadelphia.