Here's all you need to know about the Philadelphia Eagles' safety position. Let's begin with the best of the bunch. He's a former undrafted rookie free agent who worked his arse off to become a team captain.
But, he's also an impending free agent.
Serious question here. What would you do if you were Reed Blankenship? Would you re-sign with the team that gave you a shot, the only NFL team you've ever played for? Or, would you finally take advantage of free agency and see how the rest of the league values you and what you would make on the open market?
As far as Philadelphia is concerned, Reed Blankenship is beloved, but he's also a unique conversation. He didn't have his best season last year, but he's still pretty good.
The Eagles could do a lot worse than having Blankenship as a team captain, manning the backend of their defense. Marcus Epps came home, but he's also staring at free agency.
Andrew Mukuba, a rookie taken during the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, ended his first season on injured reserve. Sydney Brown was a third-rounder in 2023. We're not even sure if he can play.
That leaves Andre' Sam, a 2024 UDFA who does some nice things in practice but may not be ready for prime time. It's safe to say the Eagles would do themselves a solid by drafting a safety.
If they agree, how early they'd do so remains the obvious question. Most of us can agree that it's easy to argue that there's a more pressing need at other positions, but for the sake of argument, let's shine a spotlight on the best guys in the coming draft class.
Caleb Downs, Ohio State Buckeyes
Caleb Downs' stat sheet in 2025 includes 68 tackles and 2 interceptions. He also forced two fumbles, broke up three passes, and registered a quarterback sack.
Some may disagree with this, but for now, we'll place him atop this list of talented prospects. It's easy to argue for him being the first safety taken in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Kamari Ramsey, USC Trojans
This new Big Ten structure still messes with us. It still seems weird naming the USC Trojans as a member, but we've seen some pretty cool conference games as a result.
Games involving the Trojans often prompt discussion of Kamari Ramsey's brilliance. He's a six-foot, 204-pounder. Call us crazy, but he might be this class's Nick Emmanwori depending on how he develops.
Dillon Thieneman, Oregon Ducks
Dillon Thieneman made a nice name for himself with the Purdue Boilermakers (2023-24) before transferring to Oregon. He earned First-team All-Big Ten honors in 2025.
He was also named a First-team All-American last season after posting 64 tackles, four pass breakups, and two interceptions. Look for him to hear his name called relatively early in Round 2. That's our guess.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo Rockets
If Toledo doesn't get anything else right, they know what to look for in defensive backs. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren was a teammate of Eagles star Quinyon Mitchell for two seasons (2022-23).
Seattle Seahawks safety Maxen Hook was on that squad as well. McNeil-Warren is going to make some noise at the next level. It will be interesting to see how he is valued.
A.J. Haulcy, LSU Tigers
First-Team All-SEC and First-Team All-American honors were the result of A.J. Haulcy's 2025 NCAA football season. Count 'em up: 89 tackles, three interceptions, and four passes broken up.
He's one of the bigger guys on this list in terms of height and weight combinations. He stands at six-foot-two. He weighs 219 pounds. Here's a prediction. He'll run the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds or less.
Javon Kilgore, South Carolina Gamecocks
We didn't know whether to name Javon Kiglore as our fifth-best safety or give that honor to A.J. Haulcy, so we decided to mention both of them. The former Gamecocks star was named Second-Team All-SEC for the second time last season. He made the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2023. There's a lot to like here.
Worth mentioning:
The Philadelphia Eagles aren't necessarily walking into the offseason with desperation at safety, but that could change. Their best could leave in free agency. The other two are unproven, so some action is needed here.
The uncertainty is real. There are health questions and developmental timelines to consider, so we expect a smart front office to avoid waiting for problems to become emergencies.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Top safety prospects for Eagles to watch