One of the most pleasant surprises for the Philadelphia Eagles in recent years has been the emergence of safety Reed Blankenship.
Blankenship entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee State in 2022, signing with Philly. Despite being overlooked in the draft, he impressed immediately, and earned a starting role for himself over his three years with the team.
Brooks Kubena of The Athletic noted that the Eagles are likely saving up to extend defensive tackle Jalen Carter after the 2025 season, but they may very well extend one other player before that.
“Fourth-year safety Reed Blankenship, who’s entering the final year of his contract, is a candidate for a summer extension,” Kubena wrote on June 13.
Why Reed Blankenship Has Earned a Contract Extension With the Philadelphia Eagles
During Blankenship’s rookie campaign, he appeared in 10 games, starting four. He finished with 34 total tackles, two pass breakups and an interception, earning a reputation as a reliable go-to reserve.
By 2023 and 2024, he had firmly secured his spot as a starter. Over 40 career games, he’s logged 225 total tackles, 8 interceptions and 19 pass deflections.
In 2024, he amassed 52 solo tackles, four interceptions (tied for 10th in the league) and 6 pass breakups. Pro Football Focus gave him a 74.4 overall grade (25th among safeties), with standout coverage (73.6 grade, 22nd) and run defense (72.3, 46th) marks.
Blankenship was also a key contributor for the Eagles during their Super Bowl run last year. He’s a definite ball-hawk (he has seven interceptions and 17 pass breakups over his last two seasons), and he always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
“It’s amazing how all three of [Reed Blankenship’s] picks have looked the same. He’s done a good job,” Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said about Blankenship last year, via Bleeding Green Nation. “He quarterbacks the secondary, leads the communication between them and the linebackers. So, he’s very, very valuable.”
What Type of Contract Might Blankenship Be Looking For?
That remains to be seen, but Blankenship enters the 2025 season in the final year of his contract, with unrestricted free agency looming in 2026. He earned the second-most performance-based pay in the NFL in 2023 ($923,000), a reflection of his impact relative to his undrafted status.
Eagles management clearly values Blankenship’s consistency and versatility, and Philadelphia hasn’t had many homegrown safeties like him in recent years. With the team also investing in younger safeties (Sydney Brown, Andrew Mukuba), Blankenship’s veteran presence and leadership is about to be more valuable than ever.
Given his upward trajectory (75+ PFF grades, top‑10 INTs, key defensive plays, championship pedigree), Blankenship could aim to for around $13 million annually, with performance incentives.
If the Eagles want to solidify their secondary and maintain defensive continuity, grooming Mukuba/Brown behind Blankenship and signing him to a new contract extension is one way to do it.
Most likely, the extension would range from 2-4 years and would include a modest signing bonus, full 2026 guarantees and escalators tied to honors (All-Pro/Pro Bowl), INT totals or snap thresholds.
Kerby Joseph of the Detroit Lions is the league’s highest-paid safety ($21.5 million annually). The Eagles won’t be paying him top dollar, but it’s fair to expect a deal similar to that of Denver Broncos Pro Bowl safety Talanoa Hufanga, who signed a three-year deal worth $39 million this offseason.
