Bring on the Comp

The trade that sent veteran playmaker C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans in the wake of Super Bowl LIX was a surprise to many, and the Philadelphia Eagles must now build a new-look safety room that will revolve around fourth-year player Reed Blankenship. Blankenship, 26, remains among the more under-recognized players at his position, but has earned his place atop the Eagles’ positional hierarchy. The Middle Tennessee State product, who exudes leadership, physicality and football intelligence, is primed for a big season. But while Blankenship remains the constant at the position, the pieces around him may need an introduction.

With so many new faces on the roster, and with competition in key areas at play, now is the time to begin brushing up on the various position groups.

Our position preview series continues with a comprehensive look at what’s beyond Blankenship in the safety room.

GETTY IMAGES: Safety Sydney Brown will have a full offseason of health entering year three.

Drew Mukuba

Drafted in the second round in April, Mukuba brings with him high-level football intelligence, ball production, versatility and toughness. It’s worth noting that Mukuba sports a frame to former Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. His skill set is also comparative. Mukuba will be in contention for a starting role opposite Blankenship, and it’s his hallmarks — football smarts, versatility and playmaking ability — that would seem to align with what coordinator Vic Fangio has typically sought from the position. The 22-year-old will rack up an abundance of reps this summer, preparing him for what figures to be an impactful rookie campaign.

Sydney Brown

Brown, Mukuba’s primary challenger for a starting role, returns for his third summer in Philadelphia. Armed with a tenacious, take-no-prisoners mentality that at times borders on excess and can potentially lead to lapses, Brown may have to alter his game to fit the mold of an every-down starting safety in this defense. The 25-year-old is afforded with a full offseason of health after being deprived of one last summer as he worked his way back from a knee injury. He was activated in October and was presumably behind the eight-ball in terms of mastering the defense and logged only 79 snaps as a result. Needless to say, this is a massive offseason for Brown.

Tristin McCollum

McCollum made the leap from the Eagles’ practice squad in 2023 to securing a spot on the 53-man roster last season due to consistency and continuous improvement. The 26-year-old McCollum last season appeared in 14 games (two starts), rolling up 33 tackles and a pair of passes defended. He logged 250 defensive snaps and 227 on special teams. It’s worth noting that when Fangio this spring touched on the competition at safety between Mukuba and Brown, the veteran coordinator also added McCollum’s name to the mix. That McCollum has played himself onto Fangio’s radar shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the third-year safety embodies the assignment sound, dependable qualities that Fangio seemingly values from his personnel. McCollum will be one to watch this summer.

Andre’ Sam

Sam spent the entirety of the 2024 season on the Eagles’ practice squad — only being elevated for one game — where he developed under safeties coach Joe Kasper and defensive backs coach Christian Parker. The latter has actually mentioned Sam unprompted on multiple occasions. The 26-year-old is tough, resilient and competitive and feels ready to make a noticeable leap in his second season. Sam was close with Gardner-Johnson — they trained together in New Orleans — so the presumption here is that knowledge coupled with another year in the system could give him an advantage in a crowded field. If you’re looking for a dark horse roster candidate among this group, keep an eye on Sam.

Lewis Cine

A first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, injuries have prevented Cine from finding his footing through three seasons. For perspective, through three seasons, Cine has appeared in 11 games. The Vikings and Cine parted ways last summer, and the 6-foot-2, 199-pound defensive back landed on the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills. He played in one game. The Eagles signed Cine to the 53-man roster during the playoff run, ensuring he was with the team for the full offseason. Healthy and reunited with many of his former Bulldog teammates, Cine will have an opportunity to revive his career with the Eagles.

Maxen Hook

Hook signed with the Eagles as a rookie free agent this spring on the heels of a productive college career, collecting 356 tackles, 15 passes defended, seven interceptions and a pair of sacks. Roommates with Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell at Toledo, Hook also possesses football intelligence, toughness and range. His effort is another characteristic that flashes when watching him play. It’ll be a challenging task, but if Hook manages to climb the depth chart, he’ll excel as a core special teamer.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.