Shortly after their impressive postseason run that culminated with lifting the Lombardi Trophy, the Philadelphia Eagles lost a few key contributors. Paying the price of success in the NFL, the Eagles lost Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, and Mekhi Becton in free agency. They also made the surprise decision to trade CJ Gardner-Johnson to the Texans. While these impactful starters will be difficult to replace, not every player who left in free agency will be missed by Eagles fans.
Eagles Will Likely Not Miss CB James Bradberry
Among those is veteran cornerback James Bradberry. Earlier in the offseason, the Eagles released Bradberry with a post-June 1 designation, saving $2.1 million against the cap. Despite having his best season as a pro in his first year in Philadelphia in 2022, Bradberry had worn out his welcome with the team since then.
Following his All-Pro second-team season, the Eagles rewarded Bradberry with a three-year, $38 million extension in the 2023 offseason. In 2023, Bradberry struggled immensely and was a big reason for the defensive collapse in the second half of the season. He was considering a switch to safety before the 2024 season, but suffered an unfortunate leg injury in practice that ended his campaign before it even began.
It was later revealed that Bradberry suffered a torn Achilles and Soleus muscle. He should be healthy to begin the 2025 season, but he remains unsigned. He will almost certainly get a chance on a "prove it" deal after the NFL Draft, but the probability of him regaining his Pro Bowl form is highly unlikely.
GM Howie Roseman did an excellent job revamping the Eagles secondary, adding Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell last season. Philadelphia signed Adoree' Jackson in free agency to further bolster the rotation. The Eagles are hoping that internal development and another draft class will be enough to overcome the losses of Gardner-Johnson, Isaiah Rodgers, Avonte Maddox, and Bradberry. Considering the success the team has had in drafting and developing players, there is no reason not to be optimistic about their chances to do so.