A Quiet Overhaul
The Eagles’ 2025 campaign ended in disappointment after a Super Bowl‑winning 2024, leaving the franchise with a clear need to reassess its defensive backfield. Rather than splashing cash in free agency, the front office opted for a low‑key approach, re‑signing Marcus Epps and adding a couple of depth pieces.
Among the safeties who saw significant snaps, Andrew Mukuba, a second‑round rookie from Texas, posted the highest grade of the trio but still ranked 73rd out of 91 safeties in the league. Reed Blankenship finished 89th, while Marcus Epps posted a defensive score of 51.8, roughly placing him around the 80th percentile.
Roles in Flux
Cooper DeJean, the team’s first‑team All‑Pro nickelback, will slide into the starting safety spot in the base defensive package — a scheme that accounted for only about 20 percent of snaps last season. When DeJean returns to his nickel role, Marcus Epps is expected to man the first‑team defense alongside Mukuba.
The only notable additions to the safety room are veteran J.T. Gray and rookie Cole Wisniewski. Neither is projected to start, but both could provide depth and special‑teams value.
Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice had anticipated more aggressive moves, yet the Eagles have stayed largely silent, choosing instead to let the current group compete in training camp before any major reshuffling.