Reed Blankenship
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The hype around former Philadelphia Eagles starting safety Reed Blankenship and his role with his new team only continues to build as we close in on the start of the regular season.
Blankenship tanked in his final game with the Eagles — a 23-19 home upset loss to the San Francisco 49ers — which now seems completely forgotten after he signed a 3-year, $24.75 million free-agent contract with the Houston Texans.
The Athletic’s Daniel Popper put Blankenship at the top of his list of NFL players who will make the “Biggest Impact” on their new teams in 2026, which seems like a bit of a reach considering the Texans already had 1 of the NFL’s best defenses before they signed Blankenship.
“Blankenship entered free agency coming off a down year with the Eagles,” Popper wrote on September 9. “The Texans signed him to a deal worth $8.25 million in average annual value. At least part of Blankenship’s performance in 2025 was related to a rotating cast at the second safety spot. He should not have that same issue in Houston as he joins a defense that includes safety Calen Bullock. The Texans also have one of the best cornerback groups in the league with outside corners Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter and nickel Jalen Pitre. The Texans already had one of the best defenses in the league last season. Blankenship fills a spot that was not entirely solidified in 2025. He could be the piece that pushes the Texans from elite to generational on that side of the ball.”
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Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, and the entire NFC East Division. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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