Eagles compare 7th-round pick to unlikely Super Bowl champion

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Many Philadelphia Eagles fans left the 2026 NFL draft concerned about a major hole on the roster. But Howie Roseman has faith that a seventh-round pick could help fill the void.


Philadelphia entered the draft with an obvious need at safety. Longtime starter and Super Bowl champion Reed Blankenship departed in free agency, leaving the Eagles with second-year Andrew Mukuba and a host of uninspiring veterans on one-year deals.


Roseman had chances to take an immediate game-changer in the secondary in the draft.


Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman was available for the Eagles in the first round. They passed and went with USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, a first-round talent, was available at No. 54. Instead, they took Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers.


Some Eagles fans were freaking out a bit on social media around the second-round decision. McNeil-Warren, the No. 21 player in the class per ESPN, was sitting right there. But Roseman opted for another high-upside play on offense and waited to address the safety position.


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And he waited. And he waited, all the way until the seventh round.


That’s when the Eagles drafted Texas Tech safety Cole Wisniewski with the No. 244 pick — a selection they received in the Jonathan Greenard trade with the Minnesota Vikings.

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Texas Tech safety Cole Wisniewski during an NCAA football game against Houston on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke).AP

Not many people knew who Wisniewski was. That’s typically the case with seventh-round picks.


But there’s reason to believe Wisniewski can not only make the 53-man roster, but follow a similar path to Blankenship and emerge as a staple in the secondary.


Wisniewski’s journey to Philadelphia wasn’t straightforward. He was a six-year college player, just like Blankenship.


Wisniewski spent five years at North Dakota State before transferring to Texas Tech. He was an FCS All-American and led the division with eight interceptions in 2023. Then, he missed the 2024 campaign with a foot injury before transferring to Texas Tech.


Wisniewski was a key cog in Texas Tech’s run to a Big 12 title and the College Football Playoff. On a defense with stars like David Bailey, Romello Height, Jacob Rodriguez and Lee Hunter, Wisniewski was a glue guy, starting 14 games and making 78 tackles.


While Wisniewski wasn’t making highlight reel plays, he showed off his instincts, ball skills and physicality — all of which Roseman pointed out on Saturday night.


“There’s some reminder of a guy we won the Super Bowl with,” Roseman said of Wisniewski, comparing him to Blankenship. “Those are tough shoes to fill. But when you watch him, you saw some of the things you liked with Reed.”

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Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship (32) in action against the New York Jets during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in East Rutherford NJ. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)AP

Roseman said it’ll be an “unbelievable outcome” if Wisniewski has the career that Blankenship, an undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee State, had in Philadelphia.


Blankenship earned a roster spot via special teams in 2022. He later emerged as a team captain and a 51-game starter from 2023-25, playoffs included. In that span, Blankenship recorded 307 tackles, 21 passes defended and four forced fumbles.


Roseman acknowledged that they “miss” Blankenship, who signed a three-year, $24.5 million contract with the Houston Texans — a deal the Eagles could have seemingly matched.


But Roseman projected confidence around the safety position. Mukuba, the 2025 second-round pick, is expected to take another step. Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II are internal options to start opposite him. There’s still time to make a trade or another addition, as well.


But Roseman and the Eagles liked what they saw in Wisniewski. And everyone will be watching to see if he can beat the seventh-round odds and do what Blankenship did.

Eagles News​

• How Eagles draft pick turned ‘a dark time’ into NFL future — at new position May. 1, 2026, 7:00a.m.
• Makai Lemon contract details: How much will Eagles rookie WR make? Apr. 30, 2026, 2:17p.m.
• 4 Eagles who might be worried about making the roster after the draft Apr. 30, 2026, 6:00a.m.
• The son of an Eagles legend is getting his shot in Philadelphia Apr. 29, 2026, 2:10p.m.

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