March 9, 2026, 9:04 p.m. CT
A new safety has joined the Houston Texans’ secondary for 2026 and beyond.
According to reports, the Texans and former Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Reed Blankenship have agreed to terms on a three-year, $24.75 million contract. The deal includes $16.5 million guaranteed.
Blakenship, who was voted a team captain for the Eagles, played in 16 games last season, totaling 83 tackles, one interception and a forced fumble. Before that, he recorded seven interceptions between 2023-24, along with 18 pass deflections.
A former undrafted free agent from Middle Tennessee State, the 27-year-old was a key part of a championship defense in 2024 that finished first in passing yards allowed (174.2) and second in opponent points per game (17.8). Over the past three years, he has started at least 16 games while posting a coverage grade of at least 73.0, per Pro Football Focus.
With a need opposite Pro Bowler Calen Bullock and limited quality options on the roster, the Texans needed to make a move to shore up the position and perhaps land a stud in Blankenship. Here is our initial grade of the expected signing.
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Signing details
Three years, $24.7 million, $16.5 million guaranteed
Initial grade: B+
People are too focused on the offensive line to realize that the role opposite Bullock needed a long-term upgrade. C.J. Gardner-Johnson lasted three games before he lost the locker room and a spot on the roster and M.J. Stewart was a special teams standout before being forced to take on a bigger role. The results spoke for themselves before a season-ending quad injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. The combination of Jaylen Reed and Myles Bryant didn’t make fans feel comfortable when watching quarterbacks attack man coverage.
Blankenship is coming off a down season. A year removed from winning a Super Bowl, his interception, pass breakup total and yards per reception all took a hit. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed a career-high in touchdowns (4) and missed tackles (11), but finished top 10 among safeties in forced fumbles.
From a fit, Blankenship is the ideal type of man coverage defender to fit in a secondary that just needs a running mate to pair with Bullock. He’s stable in coverage, but far superior as a run defender who attacks the second level of the defense. He’s not a straight-up box safety, but Blankenship is at his best when playing the run or guarding tight ends.
Basically, Blankenship is playing the same role for a new team with a bit more firepower. After forming a strong secondary with Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell in Philadelphia, he’ll be the final piece of a secondary that features three Pro Bowl talents and an All-Pro in Derek Stingley Jr. The Texans, with four different safeties, still ranked top-10 in every pass coverage category, including No. 1 in total yards allowed (277.2) and No. 2 in scoring (17.7).
An $8 million deal isn’t bad for a guy who started 50 games and likely would have been a better fit for an elite defense than anyone in coverage last season. The only reason why it’s a B+ is because of the immediate need. The Texans must address the offensive line and that same deal could have gone to either Pittsburgh Steelers guard Isaac Seumalo or Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Cade Mays.
That doesn’t mean Blankenship is a bad signing. If anything, he’s the cherry on top of perhaps the greatest defense ever assembled off NRG Drive in 2026.