The Philadelphia Eagles are reshaping their secondary ahead of the 2026 season, trading safety Sydney Brown to the Atlanta Falcons in a deal that also involves multiple late-round draft picks. According to NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo, the Eagles will receive Atlanta’s fourth- (No. 114) and sixth-round (No. 197) selections, sending back Brown along with their own fourth- (No. 122) and sixth-round picks (No. 215).
Brown, a 2023 third-round pick, started nine games over three seasons in Philadelphia and compiled 86 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and five pass breakups across 42 appearances. Known for his special-teams reliability and versatility in coverage, he now joins a Falcons secondary anchored by Jessie Bates and Xavier Watts, providing depth and flexibility for defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
To fill the void left by Brown’s departure, the Eagles are bringing back safety Marcus Epps and have agreed to terms with veteran J.T. Gray, both on one-year deals. These moves come after starting safety Reed Blankenship left Philadelphia in free agency for the Houston Texans.
The Eagles also signed Tariq Woolen this offseason to bolster the cornerback room alongside Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, rounding out a secondary undergoing significant upgrades in both depth and experience.
