Three Years Ago, No Team Drafted Him – Now He’s a Key Starting Safety for the Eagles

Three Years Ago, No Team Drafted Him – Now He’s a Key Starting Safety for the Eagles

Reed Blankenship waited through all seven rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft – and not a single team called his name. No Combine invite, no spotlight, and no buzz around a small-school prospect from Middle Tennessee. But the Philadelphia Eagles saw something – and gave him a chance. Three years later, that chance has turned into a role that’s become irreplaceable.

Blankenship joined the Eagles as an undrafted free agent, one of the most overlooked names in that year's training camp. But he didn’t show up just to fill space – Reed quickly proved himself with smart, physical, and fearless football. As a rookie, he made headlines with an interception against Aaron Rodgers – a moment that many now point to as the turning point of his career.

“I’ll never forget that moment – it reminded me that I belong here.”

In his second season, he wasn’t just rotating in – he locked down a starting job at safety, commanding the back end of the Eagles’ defense. With clutch tackles, sharp reads, and zero fear, he established himself as the last line of defense. No flash, no hype – just results.

Now entering the 2025 season, there’s no debate – Reed Blankenship is a cornerstone of the Eagles’ secondary, and a player younger teammates now look up to.

“The Eagles didn’t just give me a chance – they gave me a home. A place to grow, to be trusted, to be myself. And I’m grateful for that every single day.”

From overlooked and undrafted to one of the most dependable names on the depth chart, Blankenship’s rise isn’t about luck – it’s about consistency, toughness, and believing in the opportunity that one team gave him when no one else would.

Philadelphia believed in him first – and now he’s giving everything back to the city and the team that took that leap of faith.