Eagles follow familiar path with Reed Blankenship’s contract (in the worst way)

The team has taken a different path, however, when it comes to former undrafted rookies who blossom into starters, and that might explain why safety Reed Blankenship remains grossly underpaid and on an expiring contract entering 2025.

Based on recent history, Reed Blankenship’s time in Philly could be nearing its end

Bleacher Report named Blankenship the Eagles’ most important contract decision ahead of the 2025 season, and on paper, it’s easy to see why. He’s not only recorded seven interceptions over the past two seasons, as writer Moe Moton detailed, but he’s a major reason why the team could justify cutting ties with veteran C.J. Gardner-Johnson in a cost-saving move this offseason. It’s also worth noting that Blankenship, 26, is now the longest-tenured defensive back on Philly’s roster.

Insider Anthony DiBona recently compared Blankenship’s situation to linebacker T.J. Edwards’ back in 2022:

"After Philadelphia signed Edwards as an undrafted free agent, he spent four seasons with the team, developing into a key starter on defense for the Eagles and seemed to deserve a hefty contract extension…yet it never materialized,” Dibona wrote for The Philly Special Show. “Fast forward to 2025 and Blankenship finds himself in a similar situation. Everything that he has done on and off the field seems to warrant him signing a contract extension to remain in Philadelphia. Yet the Eagles didn’t discuss a contract extension with Blankenship during the offseason, according to a source.”

Why the Eagles could justify letting Reed Blankenship walk as a free agent in 2026

With Roseman and Philly’s front office, it’s all about retaining value, and few teams have done it better over the past decade than the reigning Super Bowl champs. 

In DiBona’s estimation, the Eagles may see more value in gaining a strong 2027 compensatory draft pick for Blankenship, than they do in paying a former undrafted rookie in the neighborhood of $12 million-plus per season. Per Spotrac, Blankenship will earn a shade under $1.5 million in the final year of his deal in 2025.

It’s still early in the process, and while it’s typically good business in the NFL to avoid high-priced contracts at the safety position, Roseman just rewarded inside linebacker Zack Baun with a new $51 million contract this year. If Blankenship balls out at an All-Pro level in 2025, he could definitely still earn his own lucrative payday in Philly.

But there’s some precedent here for the Eagles to take their time, and it sure doesn’t feel like a Blankenship extension is imminent prior to Week 1 of the regular season.