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Reed Blankenship: The Philadelphia Eagles have been making some quiet but smart moves lately, and fans have been watching every step closely. After coming off a strong Super Bowl run, the team’s top decision-makers, General Manager Howie Roseman and owner Jeffrey Lurie, seem to be hitting a bit of a reset button. They’ve kept their big spending in check, choosing to invest in key players already on the roster and passing on big-money deals with outsiders. In fact, Roseman hasn’t signed even one free agent to a long-term deal this offseason, which is almost unheard of. The result? Philly is sitting on a healthy $30.7 million in cap space, money they could use if a major opportunity presents itself.
With 13 draft picks lined up for 2026, many believe a bold move could be just around the corner. But amid all this strategy and planning, one big question is hanging in the air:
What’s going on with Reed Blankenship?
Blankenship has quietly become a cornerstone of the Eagles’ defence. He’s proven himself with over 180 tackles and seven interceptions in just two seasons—numbers any team would be thrilled to have. But his contract is set to expire after the 2025 season, and so far, not a single extension conversation has taken place. That’s unusual for a player who’s done everything right and become one of the team’s most dependable starters.
And it’s not like the Eagles have a deep bench behind him. Most of the other safeties on the roster are either rookies or untested players still trying to earn their stripes. If Blankenship decides to hold out of training camp, and he just might, considering he shares an agent with other big-name players who’ve done the same, Philly could find itself scrambling to fill a major gap.
There’s even a veteran free agent, Justin Simmons, waiting in the wings who might get a call if things get tense. Still, many insiders believe Blankenship is looking at a new deal worth around $36 million over three years. That’s a lot for someone who wasn’t even drafted, but his numbers and his consistency back it up.
The Eagles are clearly playing the long game here. They’re likely saving up for huge contracts down the line, especially for rising stars like Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith Jr. But while that strategy makes sense on paper, it comes with risk. Letting a key player like Blankenship walk away or feel underappreciated could backfire badly, especially when your defence is already thin in that area.
Right now, the Eagles are betting on their young players stepping up and filling the gap. But if things don’t go according to plan, they might wish they’d locked down one of their most reliable defenders before the season even started.