ESPN: Eagles should add safety Eddie Jackson before training camp

The Philadelphia Eagles brought back safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson this offseason to help a safety position that struggled in 2023, and ESPN’s Aaron Schatz suggested the team should add even more safety help before the start of training camp.

Gardner-Johnson should start right away, but who is partner will be is still up in the air at this time. Incumbents Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown both have their issues, with Brown returning from ACL injury. Blankenship has been solid, but not spectacular with Blankenship four interceptions and one fumble recovery in 25 career games with Philadelphia.

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Schatz suggests the Eagles add to the position with a former Vic Fangio standout, veteran Eddie Jackson, formally of the Chicago Bears.

What the Eagles could use is defensive depth. At safety, for example, Sydney Brown is coming back from an ACL injury suffered late last season, leaving little depth behind C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship. Jackson, a former Bears star, would help stabilize the unit. He could play strong safety if Gardner-Johnson lines up in the slot, or he might even beat out Blankenship for the free safety position.

Jackson, 30, missed five games due to injury last season, with 37 tackles, five pass breakups, and one interception.

He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection was an All-Pro in 2018, when Fangio was the Bears defensive coordinator.

Since being drafted in 2017 by the Bears, he has played and started in exactly 100 games, making 459 combined tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 15 interceptions and 44 passes defensed.

It would add a veteran presence to the safety room which is thin on depth, even if he isn't a starting player. As Schatz mentions, even if Blankenship is the starter, he has missed time with injury in the past, so having a player who knows Fangio's system could help, especially is Brown isn't ready at the start of training camp on July 23rd.