The Philadelphia Eagles moved on from Reed Blankenship during the 2026 NFL offseason. They have yet to replace him in their defensive secondary, leaving a potential hole on their roster. BR’s Maurice Moton recently suggested an aggressive trade for Jessie Bates III in order to do so.
Eagles Trade Rumors Suggest Jessie Bates III Replacing Reed Blankenship
Blankenship departed the Eagles in free agency this year to sign with the Houston Texans, while Sydney Brown was also traded to the Atlanta Falcons. This leaves an inexperienced pair of safeties in Andrew Mukuba and Marcus Epps at the top of the depth chart for the defensive secondary.
Moton suggested that the Eagles reach out to the Falcons for another trade, potentially acquiring a safety after already sending one to the Falcons. He explained why Bates, a former All-Pro and Pro Bowler, makes sense in a potential deal this year.
“They must add a reliable deep-cover defender before the draft. General manager Howie Roseman can attempt to make another deal with the Falcons for Jessie Bates III … In the final year of his contract, Bates has an inflated cap number of $24.8 million.
“With a new regime in place, Atlanta may consider trading him for draft capital. If that’s the case, the Eagles can pounce on an opportunity to add a Pro Bowl-caliber defender,” said Moton.
Roseman has built a reputation for being aggressive during each offseason, so targeting Bates would seem to make sense considering the team’s current defensive needs. Players on expiring contracts are often trade candidates, so he could be available.
Moton also referenced the Falcons’ leadership changes this year, including new head coach Kevin Stefanski, so the Falcons may be looking to shake up their roster. Bates finished 25th among all safeties in PFSN’s Impact Rankings for last season, so he could serve as an upgrade from Blankenship, who ranked 44th.
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Moton pointed out the high $24.8 million cap hit in the final year of the contract, but if the Eagles were to acquire him, they could theoretically sign him to an extension and restructure his current salary.
The Eagles had a disappointing end to last season, losing 23-19 to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round after winning the Super Bowl the year before. Making a move for a star like Bates could help them get closer to competing for another championship.
