Nakobe Dean, Reed Blankenship head west as Eagles lose more players

Nov 3, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher

And the hits just keep coming, or in Monday's case, going, for the Eagles.

After losing edge rusher Jaelen Phillips to the Carolina Panthers earlier in the day, and wide receiver Jahan Dotson to the Atlanta Falcons, linebacker Nakobe Dean is taking his talents to Las Vegas to play for the Raiders, according to multiple reports. Dean will sign a three-year deal worth $36 million, with $20 million guaranteed.

BREAKING: The #Raiders are signing former #Eagles LB Nakobe Dean to a 3/36M deal per sources.

The former Georgia Bulldog started 27 games for Philadelphia and is one of the best blitzing linebackers in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/RmeuDd1x2i
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 9, 2026

Not even a full hour later, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that safety Reed Blankenship will sign a three-year, $24.75 million contract with the Houston Texans. Blankenship had been with the Eagles since they signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2022; Eagles players elected Blankenship as a team captain for the first time in 2025. The future of his "Exciting Whites" podcast with Cooper DeJean is currently unknown.

There must be some kind of master plan for general manager Howie Roseman, who has been very quiet so far on the first day of legal tampering. The NFL's tampering period lasts through Tuesday. Nothing becomes official until free agency starts at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

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Bob Cooney

Bob Cooney has been covering the Philadelphia sports scene for all of his professional life from his 25 years at the Philadelphia Daily News to sports talk radio host and co-host at 97.5 The Fanatic. There isn't a professional team, or major sporting event, that has been in this city that Cooney hasn't covered. He was the beat writer/columnist covering the Sixers before and through The Process, has covered hundreds of college games and many Phillies, Flyers and Eagles games. He was present for all days when the U.S. Open was played at Merion as part of the Daily News coverage in 2013 and was named the Pennsylvania Sports Writer of the Year in 2016 by the National Sports Media Association.

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Grace Del Pizzo

Grace Del Pizzo is a Multimedia Journalist for On Pattison. She is from Delco and has been covering Philly sports since 2023. During the 2024 MLB season, Del Pizzo worked as the Social Media Coordinator at Phillies Nation, growing their social channels and creating video content with Phillies players. She has also interned at Crossing Broad. Del Pizzo is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she majored in Sports Journalism and minored in Music Theatre. Follow her on X at @GraceDelPizzo!