Philadelphia Eagles: James Bradberry would look good in midnight green

In case you haven’t heard, the Philadelphia Eagles have a not-so-deceptive need at the perimeter cornerback spot opposite Darius Slay.

Now granted, it’s not quite time to call things a full-blown disaster just yet, we aren’t quite at Michael Jacquet-versus-Dallas levels of worry, but as things presently stand, the Eagles are looking at a competition between Tay Gowan, Zech McPhearson, Karry Vincent – maybe – and the dynamic UDFA duo of Josh Jobe and Mario Goodrich who are maybe earning a bit more hype than they deserve but hey, it’s May.

Could Philly procure a veteran who can at the very least stop the gap for the 2022 season? You bet; there are more than a few intriguing options left on the open market – read about a few of them here – but outside of maybe Kyle Fuller, it’s hard to get too excited about the available options versus the limitless possibilities seemingly available to the team two months ago.

Depressing? Maybe a little, but hey, fear not Philadelphia Eagles fans, for there might just be a Pro Bowl cornerback set to hit the open market who would probably like to stick it to a former NFC East team a few times a year.

James Bradberry is an intriguing option for the Philadelphia Eagles at CB2.

If there was no salary cap, James Bradberry would still be on the New York Giants this fall. Though he was signed by previous general manager Dave Gettleman for a defense coordinated by Patrick Graham, there’s little reason to believe that Bradberry, who was a Pro Bowler in 2020, could remain a starter under the impressive defensive mind of Wink Martindale.

Unfortunately, Bradberry has a cap hit of $21.86 million for the 2022 NFL season that would shrink to only $11.7 million if he is released outright, which, based on the team’s financial situation and the words of new general manager Joe Schoen, could lead the Giants to release their CB1 outright after failing to secure a trade in April.

But hey, one team’s misfortune is another team’s opportunity, and if New York lets Bradberry test the open market, I know of some fine folks down in Philly who would make him feel very welcome indeed.

Measuring in at 6-1, 212 pounds with really long arms and a 4.5 40, Bradberry is a cornerback built for the press-heavy scheme Jonathan Gannon would like to run. Initially drafted in the second round out of Samford by the Carolina Panthers, Bradberry came up in the Ron Riviera scheme that made Josh Norman a star and parlayed a successful stint in the Michael Jordan State into a three-year, $43.5 million contract with the Giants.

Bradberry has recorded at least 47 tackles, 10 passes defensed, and a pick in each of his six professional seasons, maintained a PFF defensive rating of 61.7 or better regardless of scheme or system, and most importantly of all, will earn $2 million from New York whether he’s on the roster or not this fall, which could open the door for a one-year, prove-it deal that could fit nicely into the Philadelphia Eagles’ $7.35 million in available cap space, with more money potentially available should Howie Roseman opt to work his contractural magic.

It’s not often a player like James Bradberry becomes available this late in the game. With the need for cornerbacks around the league at an all-time high, one would think some team would offer something for a player of Bradberry’s caliber, even just a mid-to-late round pick on the final day of the draft. If the New York Giants fail to secure a trade and ultimately let him walk for nothing, the Philadelphia Eagles would be wise to inquire about his services the second he becomes available, as the pride of Samford would look right at home in a secondary that also features Darius Slay and Avonte Maddox.