Eagles Stay or Go 2026: Safety originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Reuben Frank and Dave Zangaro bring back Stay or Go in 2026, trying to figure out the futures of every Eagles player on the roster.
We already took a look, at quarterback, running back, receiver, tight end, interior offensive line, offensive tackle, edge rusher, defensive tackle, linebacker and cornerback.
Up today: Safeties.
Reed Blankenship
Roob: Tricky one right off the bat here. Blankenship has been a solid starter since 2023, and it was surprising that the Eagles never made a move to extend him as he approached free agency. So either Blankenship and the Eagles disagree about his value or the Eagles just don’t want him back. It sure seems like Blankenship wants to be here so it’s a tough one to figure out. I think “goes” is the easy answer here, but I still think it makes too much sense to find some common ground and bring him back. He’s got a great relationship with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean and that’s the nucleus of what was the NFL’s best pass defense this year. I feel like it would be easier to get a contract with Blankenship done than go out and find another starting safety.
Verdict: Stays
Dave: I think there’s a chance the Eagles let Blankenship test the market and he doesn’t find what he wants and then he returns to Philly. But my gut tells me that if Blankenship was going to stay in Philly, he’d already have a deal by now. The 26-year-old safety entered the league as an undrafted rookie out of Middle Tennessee State in 2022 and has been a solid starter the last few seasons. He had a bit of a down year in 2025 but still offered a ton of stability on the back end. But the Eagles are eventually going to have to pay Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean and they can probably find a cheaper route at starting safety. This is one of the harder ones from the entire Stay or Go series.
Verdict: Goes
Sydney Brown
Roob: The Eagles are so unsettled at safety with Blankenship’s status up in the air that there’s a pretty good chance Sydney comes back. He’s experienced, he’s a good special teamer and he’s cheap as he goes into the final year of his four-year rookie deal. Plus, he was a 3rd-round pick and you want to keep those guys as long as you can. Brown is not a great safety, but he can get you through a game or a couple games if he has to. Can’t be a full-time starter, but I’m OK bringing him back as a special teamer and depth piece.
Verdict: Stays
Dave: The Eagles gave Brown a chance to compete with Drew Mukuba for a starting safety job in 2025 and eventually the rookie overtook him, which wasn’t a surprise. Brown was a third round pick back in 2023 and the Eagles really hoped he would become a starting safety for them but that just hasn’t happened. He played some nickel corner as a rookie but Vic Fangio wasn’t the DC when he was drafted and Fangio seems to like his other options. The 2026 season will be Brown’s final under his rookie contract and unless he gets traded, he should be back on the roster as a backup and a big-time special teams contributor. Brown led the Eagles in special teams snaps in 2025.
Verdict: Stays
Marcus Epps
Roob: Eppsie played well after getting promoted from the practice squad and ultimately replacing Brown, who had replaced Drew Mukuba after he was lost for the season. I don’t want to hand Epps a starting job for 2026 but I have no problem re-signing him and having him compete for the job if Blankenship isn’t here.
Verdict: Stays
Dave: This one goes hand in hand with Blankenship. If the Eagles aren’t able to re-sign Blankenship one of their cheaper options will be to simply keep Epps around. The veteran was pretty solid once he found his way into the starting lineup late in the 2025 season and he wouldn’t need to get paid nearly as much. The Eagles could re-sign Epps but then also bring in competition for him at the spot too. If nothing else, Epps would be worth keeping around as a cheap veteran depth piece.
Verdict: Stays
Andrew Mukuba
Roob: I like the way Mukuba grew in his 10 starts before he was sidelined with that broken ankle, and I thought after a little bit of an inconsistent start he had become a solid starter, and I have no reason to doubt that he can continue to progress in 2026. At a position with a ton of question marks, he’s the one sure starter.
Verdict: Stays
Dave: The second-round pick from Texas was having what Vic Fangio called an “uneven” rookie season before finally finding some consistency a couple months into his career. Unfortunately, Mukuba fractured his ankle against the Cowboys in November, which ended his rookie season early. He’s planning on being ready to go by spring practices and wants to build off his progress in Year 2. He should have every opportunity to return as a starter this upcoming season after showing some encouraging signs as a rookie.
Verdict: Stays
Andre’ Sam
Roob: Sam’s been around on the practice squad a couple years, got into four games as a game-day elevation and played three defensive snaps and 38 on special teams. He’s back with a futures contract, which means he’ll probably be around through training camp. I don’t see a path for a spot on the 53-man roster any time soon.
Verdict: Goes
Dave: The Eagles seem to like Sam, who was a UDFA out of LSU just a few years ago. Sam, 27, has played in four games in his NFL career but has mostly been on the practice squad. He’ll be given a legitimate chance to make the roster and based on the depth at safety, has a shot. But it’s probably more likely that he’ll end up back on the practice squad for another season.
Verdict: Goes