Reed Blankenship’s path to becoming a centerpiece of the Eagles defense is as improbable as it is impressive.
Once an undrafted free agent fighting for a roster spot, he’s now a proven starter who helped deliver a Super Bowl to Philadelphia. His steady rise has made him a fan favorite, but it also comes with a catch: his next contract won’t be cheap. With the Eagles already juggling massive commitments to stars on both sides of the ball, Blankenship’s future is a bit of a question mark.
In his August 29 mailbag, Jimmy Kempski of the Philly Voice was asked if the Eagles will re-sign the veteran safety, and his answer was telling.
“I’m certainly not saying that a deal can’t or won’t happen before the start of the season, but … it feels like it would have already happened if it were going to happen,” Kempski wrote, adding:
“We’ll see. The assumption was that the (Andrew) Mukuba selection in the second round was made because the team traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson. But maybe it was also with the thinking in mind that the team might lose Blankenship next year.”
Blankenship Has Become Crucial Member of Eagles Secondary in Recent Seasons
Coming out of Middle Tennessee as an undrafted free agent in 2022, Blankenship quickly showed that he wasn’t just another camp body. By 2023, he was a full-time starter, logging 15 starts and finishing with over 100 tackles, 11 pass breakups and three interceptions. Despite the Eagles’ defensive struggles that year, he was one of the few constants.
That progress carried into 2024, and this time it came on a championship run. With Vic Fangio calling the defense, Blankenship thrived in a system that leaned on his range and instincts, posting 74 tackles and picking off a career-high four passes in 15 starts. He wasn’t just filling a role — he was making timely plays, earning a top-30 safety grade from Pro Football Focus.
Now, the challenge for Philadelphia is figuring out how to keep him. The Eagles bought themselves a little time with a one-year extension in April of 2024, tacking on void years to ease the cap hit. T
hat move gave Blankenship financial security in the short term but set up a 2026 reckoning: if he’s not re-signed after the 2025 season, the void years trigger about $1.11 million in dead money. It’s a small number by itself, but the bigger issue is whether Philly will spend the kind of money it’ll take to retain him.
Why Re-Signing Reed Blankenship Could Be Tricky for Philadelphia Eagles
GettyWill the Philadelphia Eagles re-sign safety Reed Blankenship?
The Eagles already have massive money locked into quarterback Jalen Hurts, and receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, not to mention hefty deals on the offensive line. They’ll also need to pay All-Pro DT Jalen Carter sooner rather than later. While general manager Howie Rosemna is among the best in the business, even he may find it challenging figuring out how to retain all that top-tier talent.
And make no mistake, the market for safeties like Blankenship is heating up. We’ve already seen Kyle Hamilton reset the top of the scale at more than $25 million a year, while players such as Antoine Winfield Jr. and Xavier McKinney have landed deals worth north of $16 million annually. Even the second tier of players has gotten pricey, with Kyle Dugger at $58 million over four years.
If Blankenship turns in another solid season in 2025, he’ll likely command something in the three-year, $30–36 million range — a fair payday for his level of play, but one that could easily push him out of Philadelphia’s budget. We’ll see how it goes, but Eagles Nation may want to brace itself.
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