This Day in Eagles History: The Combine Begins — And Philly's Secondary Needs a Savior

Every year around this time, the NFL world descends on Indianapolis for the Scouting Combine — and every year, it's a reminder that the future of your franchise might be running a 4.3 forty in compression shorts. Today, February 26, marks the first day of on-field workouts at the 2026 NFL Combine, and wouldn't you know it — tight ends, cornerbacks, and safeties are up first. For the Philadelphia Eagles, that's not just a scheduling coincidence. It's a flashing neon sign.

The Eagles enter this Combine cycle with legitimate holes in the secondary. Reed Blankenship, the undrafted free agent turned starting safety who became a fan favorite through sheer grit and bone-crushing hits, is set to test free agency. Nakobe Dean is in the same boat. The cornerback room has Kelee Ringo, Jakorian Bennett, and some spare parts, but let's be real — this defense just got embarrassed in the Wild Card round, and "depth" isn't the word you'd use to describe what's behind the starters.

Howie Roseman is down in Indy right now, armed with five draft picks (plus an expected three compensatory selections), doing what Howie does best — working the phones, reading the room, and plotting moves that won't make sense until September. The Eagles hold pick No. 23 in the first round, and if a premier corner or safety lights up Lucas Oil Stadium this week, don't be shocked if that's the direction.

History tells us the Eagles know how to find secondary talent when the moment calls for it. Brian Dawkins — the greatest safety in franchise history and arguably the most beloved Eagle ever — was a second-round pick out of Clemson back in 1996. He wasn't the flashiest Combine performer. He was just the most violent, most passionate, most relentless defensive back to ever wear midnight green. Dawkins changed the culture. He set the standard for what it means to play safety in Philadelphia.

Then there's Eric Allen, a Pro Bowl corner who patrolled the Eagles secondary for seven seasons in the late '80s and early '90s. Troy Vincent, who came via free agency and anchored the defense during the early Andy Reid era. Asante Samuel, the ballhawk who made the 2008 NFC Championship run possible. Philly has a long history of finding the right guys for the back end — and right now, they desperately need to find the next one.

Today's Combine workouts will feature some of the best safety and corner prospects in the country. The Eagles' scouts will be watching every rep, every drill, every interview. Somewhere in that group of 319 invited prospects is a player who could fill the void Blankenship might leave behind — or better yet, upgrade the position entirely.

The Combine has always been about projection. About seeing what a guy could become. About finding diamonds. On this day in Eagles history — and every year around this time — the future starts taking shape. For a team that just won Super Bowl LIX and is trying to stay on top, the work never stops.

The stopwatch is running. Let's see who answers.