Home / Sports / Lions Eye Risky Safety Reed Blankenship?
Lions Eye Risky Safety Reed Blankenship?
12 Feb
Summary
- Reed Blankenship, 26, offers past success but a poor 2025 season.
- Detroit needs safety depth due to Branch and Joseph's injury concerns.
- Blankenship's projected $7.2M annual salary may be too high for Detroit.
The Detroit Lions are exploring options to bolster their defensive backfield this offseason, with Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship emerging as a potentially risky target. At 26, Blankenship possesses youth and demonstrated capability, having recorded 17 passes defensed and seven interceptions across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. His Pro Football Focus grades during that period were solid, indicating starting caliber play.
Detroit faces potential depth issues at safety, particularly with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph's health status uncertain heading into the 2026 season. Blankenship's experience in a competitive environment with the Eagles aligns with Detroit's aspirations under general manager Brad Holmes.
However, Blankenship's performance in 2025 was a significant step back. He logged only one interception and received a PFF overall grade of 46.5, ranking poorly among qualified safeties. His PFF coverage grade of 32.7 was a career-worst. Given his disappointing 2025 season, his projected two-year, $14,388,746 contract, averaging $7.2 million annually, might be considered too expensive for Detroit.
