Philadelphia Eagles: Darius Slay eyeballs an intriguing CB2 target

So, as you surely already know, the Philadelphia Eagles have a pressing need in their defensive backcourt, specifically at the cornerback spot across from Darius Slay.

While the team has steadily addressed the position on the margins over the past year and change, drafting Zech McPhearson in the fourth round, trading for Tay Gowan, and signing Josh Jobe/Mario Goodrich in undrafted free agency last month, none of those players are guaranteed to become long-term starters, let alone even performers to the level of Steven Nelson, who has since signed with the Houston Texans.

But what are the Eagles to do? Could they sign with a player like Kyle Fuller, who was a Pro Bowler as recently as 2019? Or what about scouring the league on the lookout for the next Ronald Darby-style trade?

Fortunately, Darius Slay may have just swooped in and semi-co-signed his potential partner in crime – a player the Philadelphia Eagles should be very interested in indeed.

Even Darius Slay wants the Philadelphia Eagles to sign James Bradberry.

In case you haven’t noticed, Section 215 is very pro-James Bradberry, as you can read here and here.

He’s a long, tall cornerback with a game built for Jonathan Gannon’s scheme and a grudge against the New York Giants, as he was released ahead of what should have been the most lucrative season of his NFL career. Assuming he’s either willing to sign a Jarvis Landry-level contract thanks to having already earned $2 million from the Giants or that Howie Roseman can work his magic and lock him up on a mid-length deal worth something like $30 million over three years, having Bradberry lined up across from Darius Slay for the foreseeable future would be an absolute godsend for a team that’s struggled to secure positive play from two perimeter cornerbacks at the same time.

Do you know who else wouldn’t mind seeing Bradberry lined up across from Slay moving forward? That’d be Slay himself, as he retweeted a graphic from PFF with the “wide eyes” emoji.

In 2022, that’s a full-throated endorsement if I’ve ever seen one.

On the field, a pairing of Bradberry and Slay has obvious upside. Both can press at the line, contest opposing receivers through their entire route tree, and with Avonte Maddox one of the best slot men in the NFL, Gannon would be able to disguise his coverages without having to travel one cornerback out of their spot due to a less than advantageous matchup. This versatility, when coupled with the element of surprise, would make life easier for the Eagles’ entire back seven and could help to cover up for their lack of elite performers at the free and strong safety spots.

I mean hey, I like Marcus Epps as much as the next guy, but I’d feel a whole lot more comfortable having him start opposite Anthony Harris if he has Bradberry and Slay in front of him.

Ultimately, where James Bradberry signs next is a decision that belongs to himself and his circle alone. If the Philadelphia Eagles come correct with a market-value contract, they could still end up getting outbid by a team Bradberry prefers for one reason or another, and alternatively, Bradberry may simply choose to settle in the City of Brotherly Love because he likes Jonathan Gannon’s system best and believes he could shine with a pair of safeties over the top. Either way, all Howie Roseman can do is engage his game and offer up a competitive deal, and all Darius Slay can do is bug his GM and fellow CB to get it done until pen is put to paper. I mean, it did work with Steven Nelson last year; why not put Slay on the campaign trail to secure himself an elite partner in crime.