On a defense loaded with 1st-round picks, he was a 6th-rounder. On a defense loaded with Pro Bowlers, he’s only started seven games the last two years. On a defense loaded with superstars, he’s still fighting for a job.
Marcus Epps is in a unique position on this 2026 Eagles defense. He’s got nothing locked up and needs to battle for everything he gets.
“I feel like every day is an audition in this league,” Epps said after practice Thursday. “I’ve had to earn everything my whole way, my whole career from high school to college to here. It’s nothing really new to me. And just not taking anything for granted and every day trying to get better and show them that I still belong.”
Epps, now in his eighth season out of Wyoming, is beginning Year 2 of his second stint with the Eagles, and while he and 2nd-year pro Drew Mukuba are the favorites to start at safety, there is open competition with 6th-year veteran Michael Carter, a career slot corner now working at safety.
Epps, 30, started his career in 2019 with the Vikings but was claimed by the Eagles when the Vikings released him in November. He started all year in the 2022 Super Bowl season, then signed with the Raiders as a free agent in 2023 and with the Patriots as a free agent in 2025. When New England released him just before opening day , the Eagles signed him first to the practice squad and soon after to the 53. He wound up starting the last five games of the season after Mukuba suffered a broken leg in Week 12 and Sydney Brown struggled in his place.
Epps hit free agency again after the season but the Eagles locked him up after trading Brown to the Falcons and allowing Reed Blankenship to sign with the Texans.
Epps said his goal all along once he became a free agent was to come back to Philly.
“I feel like I’m around like minded people, people who love ball the way I do,” he said. “And it’s easy to come to work. And I just feel like I belong here, so I’m really, really happy to be back.
“It’s open competition, they made that clear. And that’s where my focus is. I’ve always had to earn everything my whole career anyway. So we’re all pushing each other, we’re all encouraging each other, we’re all just going out there, taking it one day at a time and trying to get better.
“Every offseason I make an emphasis to try to get better each year. Right now I like where I’m at.”
Epps has played 71 of his 99 career games with the Eagles and made 29 of his 49 career starts here. In the last 20 years, Malcolm Jenkins, Quintin Mikell, Rodney McLeod and Nate Allen are the only safeties to play more games in an Eagles uniform.
“It’s just special, man,” he said. “I just feel like the city, the organization, they love ball the way I love ball, and that means a lot to me. It makes it real easy to come to work every day. It makes it not feel like a job. It makes it feel like I’m back in Pop Warner, back in high school. So that’s really important to me.”
Epps only played 15 defensive snaps and spent a month on IR with a shoulder injury before becoming a starter in Week 14.
He wasn’t spectacular in his starting stint, but he was good enough. There weren’t splash plays, but his run defense was very good, he tackled well and he provided veteran leadership on a young secondary.
“I feel like I did solid,” Epps said. “I was proud of myself coming off of a long stint of coming off the ACL and having 15 months without starting a game.
“All things considered, I think I did solid and showed that I still got a lot of ball left in me. And I’m just excited to be able to build off that excited to have an opportunity to be healthy.
“I don’t take any of this for granted ever. After going through that, it’s a blessing to be out here every single day. I’m just having that mindset, taking it one day at a time, and just not taking anything for granted.”
Of the three competing at safety, Mukuba is probably closest to having a job locked up as a 2nd-year 2nd-round pick. Mukuba played well in his 10 starts last year before getting hurt, and although he and Epps have never played together, they worked out during the offseason at Epps’ home outside Los Angeles.
There just aren’t many competitions on this team this summer for starting spots, so if you’re looking for some high-caliber action keep your eyes on safety.
“It’s been great,” Epps said. “We’re all encouraging each other, we’re all helping each other out. But at the same time, we’re all bringing it each day.
“I feel like we’re all taking the same day-to-day mindset and just trying to get better and do whatever it takes to help the team.”
