The Dallas Cowboys have a new defensive coordinator in former Philadelphia Eagles assistant Christian Parker, and some believe his arrival could put safety Reed Blankenship near the top of the Cowboys free agent wish list this offseason.
Parker is coming off a two-year stretch where he lead the Eagles’ secondary, serving as passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach under DC Vic Fangio. The Cowboys pass defense had some glaring issues last year, particularly in the middle of the field, and that, coupled with Blankenship’s free agent status, could mean a reunion in Dallas.
“Dallas needs to rebuild their safety corps, and could stand to get younger,” Randy Gurzi of Sports Illustrated noted on January 23. “Blankenship could be a name to watch thanks to his ties to Parker.”
“One … free agent who Parker has intimate knowledge of from his time in Philadelphia, is the tastefully named Reed Blankenship,” Reid D Hanson of Cowboys Wire wrote on January 22.
“Blankenship, the Eagles starting safety over the last four seasons, is coming off his worst season as a pro. The normally solid safety is likely to get a fresh start in 2026 and that start could be with Parker in Dallas.”
A Look Back at Blankenship’s Time in Philadelphia
GettyThe Eagles could see Reed Blankenship poached by Christian Parker and the Dallas Cowboys in free agency.
Blankenship is scheduled to hit free agency in 2026 after four seasons with the Eagles.
The 6-foot-1, 203-pound defensive back entered the league without much buzz at all, signing with Philly as an undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee State in 2022. He started out as safety depth, also contributing on special teams. In Year 2, he broke out.
Blankenship became a full time starter in 2023, starting 15 games. He amassed with 113 total tackles, three interceptions and 11 passes defended that year, and followed that up with 78 tackles, four interceptions and six pass breakups in 2024.
He started 16 games this past season and finished with 83 tackles, an interception, four passes defended and the first forced fumble of his career.
“He’s been kind of a rock back there,” Fangio said about Blankenship back in October. “He’s got a rookie safety (Andrew Mukuba) next to him. His importance to the defense is more than just what you see from the playing part of it. He’s the signal caller back there and keeps everybody calm.”
More on Why Christian Parker & Dallas Cowboys Could Steal Reed Blankenship Away From Eagles in 2026
The Eagles, of course, can still keep Blankenship around. But Dallas has a new DC he knows, a need at safety and could very well match or exceed any offer he were to get in free agency. If Parker wants him bad enough, the Cowboys will surely pursue him.
Blankenship’s 2025 deal was just under $3.6 million, per Spotrac. If Dallas does decide to pursue him, it would be betting that his best football is still ahead — and that Parker’s familiarity will make him a perfect fit in a defense that could use some hard-hitters in the secondary.
It’ll likely come down to familiarity and money — which both Philadelphia and Dallas have — so it’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out.
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