How Josh Metellus' 3-year, $36M deal with the Vikings impacts Eagles DB Reed Blankenship
Reed Blankenship has become a critical cog in the Eagles' Super Bowl history, and he's continuing to add honors to his resume. Blankenship joined the Eagles as an undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee State and played his first two seasons at the NFL's minimum salary before earning escalators and a one-year extension.
Now a Super Bowl champion and one of the best young safeties in the NFL, Blankenship is in the final year of his contract and could secure a lucrative long-term extension. The baselines are being set, and Josh Metellus helped Blankenship's cause with a three-year contract worth $36 million from the Vikings.
Metellus is listed as a safety, but is utilized as the STAR defender for Minnesota, lining up all over the Vikings defense, as Brian Flores uses him as a linebacker, slot corner, and up at the line of scrimmage. Last season, Metellus recorded 103 combined tackles (63 solo), six quarterback hits, two interceptions, and a forced fumble, developing into a versatile player for Flores' ultra-aggressive defense. The $13 million per season puts Metellus in the top 15 highest-paid at the position.
Blankenship logged 78 tackles (52 solo), six pass defenses (including four interceptions), and one fumble recovery in 15 regular-season games in 2024. Blankenship improved during the playoffs, logging 27 tackles (18 solo), one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery during the Eagles ' four-game run to the Super Bowl.
Blankenship signed a one-year, $3.58 million contract extension with the Eagles last April after leading the team in tackles and interceptions.
Blankenship could be in line for another, more lucrative contract extension.
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