The safety position in the NFL can be easily overlooked and devalued. The Philadelphia Eagles historically haven’t valued the position, but they need help. This past offseason, they let veteran Reid Blankenship sign with the Houston Texans. They selected Andrew Makuba in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft, and he will start, but the team still lacks depth at the position.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio can turn undervalued players into capable starters, but that may not be the case with the Eagles’ safety room in 2026. The team re-signed veteran Marcus Epps and drafted Cole Wisniewski in the seventh round. Those two moves don’t necessarily move the needle. What makes matters worse is that Makuba only played 11 games due to a fractured ankle and fibula last season. The second-year safety did participate in OTAs and is scheduled to be ready for training camp next month.
Howie Roseman still has time to address the position, but it’s the second year in a row that the team’s safety position leaves much to be desired. Last year, Roseman traded Chauncey Gardner-Johnson Jr to the Texans for Kenyon Green, and the defense definitely felt a void in the secondary.
What Are The Philadelphia Eagles’ Current Options At Safety?
The Eagles roster currently projects to start Epps and Makuba. Neither player needs to play like an All-Pro, but they have to be serviceable. They both have deficiencies, as Makuba has durability concerns, and Epps is another year older in the league.
Moving Cooper DeJean to safety has been a topic of conversation, but his best ability is playing in the slot. Michael Carter was acquired last season before the trade deadline and didn’t have much of an impact. Perhaps a full offseason in the system can help him play meaningful snaps. So, who could the Eagles potentially target before training camp begins at the end of July?
Potential Outside Options For The Eagles
Teams have their 90-man roster just about ready for training camp, but there are still a few veterans that the Eagles could bring in to compete with Epps at the other starting spot. The question is whether Roseman prefers to acquire a player via trade or through free agency. In prior years, he has added Gardner-Johnson Jr and Kevin Byard.
One option Roseman could target is Donovan Wilson, who’s currently 31 years old and has spent his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys. He knows the NFC East and is a similar player to Blankenship. Both players have shown the ability to play in the box and display fearlessness when tackling. Wilson wouldn’t cost much due to his age and would be a slight upgrade over Blankenship, according to Pro Football Focus.
A second option would be Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman, who’s 26 years old and set to be a free agent after the season. Trading for Hickman would be a typical Roseman move, as last season he traded a third-round pick for pass rusher Jaelan Phillips, who then left to sign with the Panthers. Hickman has no more guaranteed money on his contract, and the Browns could use more draft picks for their rebuild. Current General Manager Andrew Berry came from Philadelphia and has a relationship with Roseman, plus the Browns selected Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the second round of this year’s draft, so time is ticking on Hillman.
What Should The Eagles Do Before Camp Begins?
The Eagles should add one more safety, and it should be Hickman from the Browns. He’s younger and affordable financially for the team. They have 8 projected draft picks in the 2027 NFL Draft. Last year, Roseman made several trades before week 1 of the regular season. He will not rest if he feels the team needs improvement, and Hickman would join a defense with big-time players across all three levels. The Browns’ safety wouldn’t need to be a star on defense; he would just need to play his role.
