Latest news with #C.J.GardnerJohnson
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Analyst Predicts Major Secondary Changes for Eagles
Analyst Predicts Major Secondary Changes for Eagles originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles had one of the best secondaries in the league. Veteran leaders like Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson mixed perfectly with young stars like Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell. Advertisement But Gardner-Johnson and Slay are gone this season. Replacing both will be no easy task for Philadelphia's defense. While nothing will be final during off-season workouts, the Eagles have tried different combinations during practices to see what could work for them during the 2025 campaign. And their testing has left The Athletic's Brooks Kubena with a "key observation" about the Eagles' defense. "Cooper DeJean and Drew Mukuba may both have flexible roles in a secondary undergoing yet another significant turnover in personnel," Kubena said. "Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is still deploying DeJean at nickel but moving him to outside cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell in base packages. Advertisement "Mukuba, the No. 64 pick, has been taking first-team snaps at safety — noteworthy in his battle with Sydney Brown — but he's also playing slot with DeJean in dime packages." DeJean was the top-ranked slot cornerback in the league last season. To move him to the outside is a tremendous gamble for any coaching staff. But there's a good reason for it. Philadelphia rarely played in base personnel on defense (two cornerbacks and three linebackers). In the modern NFL, most teams prefer to have three receivers on the field at all times anyway, and that forces teams to run in nickel coverage (three cornerbacks and two linebackers). Advertisement DeJean is seen as a Swiss Army Knife on the Eagles' defense. He can cover inside extremely well and has the range to be an excellent safety. That allows a defensive coach like Vic Fangio to deploy the Iowa product differently. It makes sense to keep him on the field as much as possible. It also means Mukuba could be seen as a potential backup should something happen to the second-year corner. It's not the first time an Eagles safety has gotten work in the slot. Malcolm Jenkins, a hero on Philadelphia's first title team in 2017, was a Pro Bowl player for six seasons while playing at safety and the slot. While it is too early to say Mukuba will be the next Jenkins, it is clear that the Eagles want to test any combination in their secondary to maintain their standing as an elite defensive group in 2025. Advertisement Early returns show that they believe both DeJean and Mukuba will be essential parts of that happening. Related: 'Overlooked' Rookie Poised As Next Late-Round Gem in Eagles Roster Pipeline Related: Eagles All-Pro Sounds Off On 'Evolution' of Nick Sirianni This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Reed Blankenship Embraces Leadership Role in Revamped Eagles Secondary
Reed Blankenship Embraces Leadership Role in Revamped Eagles Secondary originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Eagles' secondary underwent significant changes this offseason, with the departures of veteran cornerback Darius Slay and the March trade of safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans creating both opportunity and responsibility for the remaining players. At the center of this transformation is Reed Blankenship, who finds himself positioned to become the vocal leader of a young but talented defensive backfield coming off a Super Bowl championship. Advertisement Despite being just 26 years old and entering his fourth NFL season, Blankenship has already earned the respect of his peers following an incredible 2024 campaign that culminated in a Super Bowl victory. Perhaps no endorsement carries more weight than the one from Darius Slay himself, who spoke glowingly about Blankenship's leadership potential on his podcast earlier this year. 'Reed being around me and a lot of veterans before, I'm sure he could lead that group the right way,' Slay said. 'That's who I feel would be leading the group if I ain't in the building. He's a great damn leader.' The Eagles' secondary faced a unique challenge following Gardner-Johnson's trade to Houston in March 2025 and Slay's release. Beyond their on-field production, both players brought intangible qualities that helped define the unit's identity. Gardner-Johnson, in particular, played with an edge that set the tone for Philadelphia's secondary during their successful 2024 Super Bowl run, but was traded for purely financial reasons, according to team sources. Blankenship acknowledges that challenge but expresses confidence in the current group's ability to fill that void. Advertisement 'We understand that. We have a swag to us now. We're not going to worry about that anymore. We have the guys in the room to continue doing that,' he said. While Gardner-Johnson led through fiery emotion and Slay through veteran savvy, Blankenship appears ready to lead through mentorship and support. 'I try my best to teach these guys what I've been taught,' Blankenship said. 'It's one of those things they can take what I teach them or not, but I always let them know that I'm a strong shoulder to lean on with anything.' This approach could prove crucial as the Eagles integrate young talent like second-round safety Andrew Mukuba from Texas, who was selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, and continue developing cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, who were instrumental in the team's 2024 Super Bowl victory. Advertisement Blankenship enters the 2025 season in the final year of his contract after signing a one-year extension, adding personal motivation to his leadership responsibilities. Following his outstanding 2024 campaign, where he recorded 78 combined tackles, four interceptions, and six pass deflections while helping the Eagles achieve a 14-3 record and a Super Bowl title, Blankenship has earned a place in football history with his jersey now displayed at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Related: Is Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Ready For Bigger Role on Eagles? Related: Eagles Need 'Now or Never' Approach From Kelee Ringo This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
