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• Updated Jun 17, 2026 at 7:03pm

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Philadelphia Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba.

The Philadelphia Eagles have enough confidence in 2025 2nd-round pick Andrew Mukuba last season that they have let 1 talented safety after another go elsewhere over the last year.

Mukuba looked good and sometimes great before he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in a Week 12 loss to the Dallas Cowboys — and you can make an argument that there was a noticeable difference in the defense after he was sidelined.

Heading into 2026, it appears the Eagles still have confidence in Mukuba, despite his injury, after they not only let longtime starter Reed Blankenship leave in free agency but also traded safety Sydney Brown to the Atlanta Falcons.

Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon thinks Mukuba is the most important 2nd-year player on the Eagles’ roster — even trumping inside linebacker and 2025 1st round pick Jihaad Campbell.

Lofty Projections Headed Into Rookie Season

ESPN’s Mike Clay predicted Mukuba, 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds, would finish in the Top 5 among NFL rookies in both tackles and interceptions in his preseason projections — he had a chance to do both before his injury.

“In Philadelphia, second-rounder Mukuba has a real shot to replace C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was traded to the Texans,” Clay wrote on May 21.

The Eagles could get big savings on Mukuba in 2026 after he signed a 4-year, $7.1 million rookie contract.

Eagles fan account @ThatHurts called Mukuba the “Next Honey Badger” on its official X account, comparing Mukuba to 4-time NFL All-Pro safety and Super bowl champion Tyrann Mathieu.