For all the praise surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2026 draft class, praise that is no doubt well-deserved, one thing remains clear. They didn’t fix everything, and the biggest question mark is staring them right in the face. Despite adding bodies, the safety position is an unfinished room that stands out as the most pressing need on the roster.
Philadelphia added Cole Wisniewski in the seventh round, and there’s optimism he could develop into a contributor. Some have even floated comparisons to Reed Blankenship, but early indications suggest Wisniewski may do his best work closer to the line of scrimmage rather than as a true deep safety. That creates a gap because the Eagles lack a presence on the back end who can control the middle of the field and change how offenses attack.
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The Eagles have created depth at safety but lack a dominant player.
Philadelphia’s current group of safeties offers bodies, but not certainty. Drew Mukuba is expected to take the next step in his starting role in Year 2, even as he returns from injury. Marcus Epps provides experience and familiarity, but he isn’t viewed as a long-term difference-maker. J.T. Gray is a core special teamer, while Andre’ Sam and Brandon Johnson remain developmental options.
Undrafted additions like Tucker Large, Maximus Pulley, and Kapena Gushiken bring competition, but they’re long shots to solve the issue immediately (and Gushiken may be better suited to play slot cornerback). That’s the reality. That said, it would seem the safety position is still one in flux for Philadelphia.
The departure of Blankenship and the trade involving Sydney Brown helped reshape this room quickly. What’s left is a group still searching for identity, and in today’s NFL, that isn’t always a small concern. Safeties aren’t just last-line defenders anymore. They’re communicators, playmakers, and tone-setters. Without a clear answer at the position, the entire defense can feel it. The Eagles have options. They could explore veteran additions. They could trust internal development. They could wait and see how the competition unfolds in camp, but make no mistake. This isn’t a minor detail to monitor. It’s the one question that could define how far this defense and this team can go because for all the strengths on this roster, the Eagles still need someone to hold it all together on the back end.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles’ biggest need after NFL draft the safety spot opposite Mukuba
