James Bradberry is staying in the NFC East. The former New York Giants starting cornerback has joined the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year, $10 million contract, according to a league source. This is a significant power move by the Eagles to add a veteran corner of Bradberry’s caliber and experience.
When Bradberry was cut, the move saved the Giants $10.1 million against the salary cap. Now, Bradberry teams up with Darius Slay to give the Eagles a strong cornerback tandem.
Ex-Giants CB James Bradberry joins Eagles
The Eagles later announced the move officially. Bradberry, 28, was due a $13.4 million base salary in 2022.
The Chiefs explored Bradberry after holding discussions with the Giants. Kansas City’s previous compensation discussions ranged from a late-round selection going to New York in a possible deal to swapping picks in the middle rounds, according to league sources.
The Chiefs traded with the Texans for corner Lonnie Johnson Jr. and addressed the position during the NFL draft with first-round draft pick Trent McDuffie.
The Texans previously had some interest in Bradberry but weren’t on the same page financially with him. A trade for a potential late-round draft pick was never consummated due to the wide gap in money on a potential long-term deal, per league sources. They have also since drafted cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. with the third overall pick and signed veteran corner Steven Nelson.
Bradberry was a Pro Bowl selection in 2020. He intercepted four passes last season and had 17 pass deflections. Bradberry has recorded 15 career interceptions and 380 tackles.
Bradberry, teaming up with Slay and Avonte Maddox, gives Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon some good pieces to work with in the secondary.
Bradberry is a big, strong corner at 6-foot-1, 212 pounds. He had seven interceptions and 35 pass deflections for the Giants.
The Eagles have made it a point to try to upgrade their defense, signing pass rusher Haason Reddick and linebacker Kyzir White. They also drafted massive defensive tackle Jordan Davis and instinctive linebacker Nakobe Dean.
A former Carolina Panthers second-round draft pick from Samford University, Bradberry signed a three-year, $45 million with the Giants in 2020. In 2021, he restructured his contract twice to create cap space for the Giants.
“Long,” Giants new head coach Brian Daboll said of Bradberry during the NFL owners’ meetings. “Been a good player.”