Even with the NFL salary cap making a massive leap above $300 million in 2026, we can say with a high level of certainty that the Philadelphia Eagles have too much talent and not enough money to go around.
That can mean some high value, high impact players headed elsewhere, including starting safety Reed Blankenship, who could attract big money in free agency in the 2026 cycle.
Pro Football Focus tabbed Blankenship, 26 years old, as the one free agent the Dallas Cowboys should pursue in free agency above all others this offseason, sending him to the Eagles’ most hated rivals.
“The Cowboys’ main maneuver this offseason figures to be retaining star receiver George Pickens, but Dallas’ languid defense still needs major modifications.” PFF’s Bradley Locker wrote. “That includes in the secondary, where Donovan Wilson will be a free agent. Blankenship was ineffective in coverage last season with a 29.9 PFF coverage grade, but he still flashed with a 75.3 PFF run-defense grade. Additionally, his coverage grade before this season is a noticeably better 87.1. With Christian Parker coming in from Philadelphia as Dallas’ new defensive coordinator, several Eagles could join him.”
Blankenship Had Disastrous Playoff Game
While Blankenship’s free agent market value currently sits at something in the range of a 2-year, $14.3 million contract, that’s quite a bit of a dive from earlier predictions.
Blankenship did himself no favors in the Eagles’ 23-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Wild Card Round, where he seemed generally lost on defense and got cooked on a trick play that led to a touchdown pass from wide receiver Jauan Jennings to running back Christian McCaffrey.
Value Could Be Sky High for Cowboys
Blankenship’s recent setback could mean not only would the Cowboys land him for less than what they would have paid in the past, but they’ll get an uber-motivated player on the roster — never underestimate the “something to prove” angle.
Blankenship, 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds, is actually an incredible story. He made the Eagles an undrafted free agent in 2022 out of Middle Tennessee State and became the team’s full-time starter in 2023 and has kept that spot for the last 3 seasons — including a bravura year in 2024 as Philadelphia won the second Super Bowl in franchise history.
PFF’s Jonathan Macri called Blankenship the “Most Underrated Player” on Philadelphia’s roster headed into the 2025 season.
“On a Super Bowl-winning roster, there will always be some unsung heroes whose contributions might get overlooked, and Blankenship stands out,” Macri wrote. “As a former undrafted free agent, Blankenship has assumed a locked-in starter over the past two seasons and delivered an 87.2 PFF coverage grade, which ranks eighth among 129 qualifying safeties since 2022.”
Eagles Have Wealth of Talent in Secondary
The truth for the Eagles is if Blankenship does leave, there might not be much of a hiccup.
Philadelphia has a pair of NFL All-Pro players in the secondary with another season left before they’re up for contract extensions in outside cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and slot cornerback Cooper DeJean.
At safety, the Eagles also seem to have a star in the making in 2025 second round pick (No. 54 overall) Andrew Mukuba, who was already playing like one of the NFL’s elite before he suffered a season-ending broken ankle in a Week 12 loss to the Cowboys.
Hated NFC Rival Could Steal Eagles Safety Reed Blankenship