First Jaelan Phillips, then Jahan Dotson, then Nakobe Dean.
In a matter of hours, the fourth starter from last year is on the move.
Captain Reed Blankenship is headed to Houston.
The deal comes in at three years and $24.75 million. $16.5 million is guaranteed.
This is the first departure that it’s surprising the Eagles didn’t match. It wasn’t particularly unreasonable and a position of need for the Birds.
Blankenship had been an UDFA gem and while he isn’t the most physically talented safety around, he was a leader and a good starter.
Andrew Makuba showed promise as the season went on, but he is coming off of a serious injury.
The only other safety to play significant NFL snaps on the roster since Sydney Brown, who has his own injury history and has seemingly not improved since his rookie year. The defense was better when he was benched for Marcus Epps last year.
The contract would have garnered a sixth-round pick based on the comp picks just awarded from last year’s round of free agency.
