BREAKING: Texans Sign S Reed Blankenship

· Yahoo Sports

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 28: Reed Blankenship #32 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after making a tackle in the second quarter of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Texans have ARRIVED to NFL free agency! ESPN’s Adam Schefter just reported that the Houston Texans are signing former Philadelphia Eagles S Reed Blankenship to a 3-year, $24.75 million deal:

Many of us here at Battle Red Blog have been hoping/expecting some Texans activity this offseason, and the Texans have been plenty active when it came to re-signing veteran players from last year and recouping some cap space, they have not been busy in the external free agent market. That changes now!

Blankenship, 27, was an undrafted rookie signed by the Eagles in 2022, and quickly became a starting free safety for their championship-caliber defense by the latter half of his first year. He’s quick, athletic, capable of reading and reacting to the opposing team’s scheme, and arrives at the point of attack with serious intensity. On top of that, he earned a reputation in 2023 and 2024 of being one of those safeties that is somehow always in the right spot on a big play, either to save the Eagles with a tackle or turn an errant pass into an interception. In his 4 seasons as a primarily starting safety, Blankenship tallied:

  • 56 Games (50 Starts)
  • 308 Tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 QB Hit
  • 23 Pass Deflections
  • 9 Interceptions
  • 1 Forced Fumble
  • 2025 Stats: 16 Games (16 Starts), 83 Tackles, 1 TFL, 4 PDs, 1 FF, 1 INT, 42.6 PFF Grade (75.3 RDEF, 71.6 TACK, 67.8 PRSH, 29.9 COV)

Blankenship had a bit of a rough ending to his tenure in Philly, getting exposed in coverage a few times despite otherwise being a generally reliable player. Despite that, though, Blankenship makes an excellent signing by Texans general manager Nick Caserio considering the lack of depth Houston has at his position and the need for some more thumping safeties. 

Houston was exposed in the deep backfield by S C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s departure from the team after only 3 regular season games, and S M.J. Stewart’s season-ending injury in week 10. After that, Houston relied on a revolving cast of safeties to tie that position down, including but not limited to CB/S Myles Bryant, S Jalen Mills, and rookie S Jaylen Reed. Reed has earned some fans in the front office and in the stands, but this move makes it clear Houston isn’t satisfied with just Reed and Stewart’s one-year deal to return. They want another starter in the backfield, and they’re getting it in Reed Blankenship. He and CB Cooper DeJean became fan-favorite defensive backs for the Eagles during their most recent dominant run that has included 2 trips to the Super Bowl and a championship. Hopefully, that Super Bowl aura will follow Blankenship down to Houston for the next 3 years.

What do you think of this signing? Did the Texans do the right thing in targeting the defensive backfield, or should they have spent this money on an offensive lineman? LG Isaac Seumalo just signed with the Arizona Cardinals on a similar deal, should Houston have targeted him instead? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!!

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