James Bradberry is still an Eagle, but he's no longer a cornerback

Bradberry has switched positions in the Eagles' secondary

By Reuben Frank • Published June 4, 2024

James Bradberry is still an Eagle.

He’s just not a cornerback anymore.

Nick Sirianni said before minicamp practice Tuesday that Bradberry – a 2^nd-team All-Pro cornerback two years ago – is now working at safety.

With the addition of 1^st-round pick Quinyon Mitchell, 2^nd-round pick Cooper DeJean and free agent Isaiah Rodgers, there wasn’t a spot at corner for Bradberry across from six-time Pro Bowler Darius Slay.

But the Eagles obviously don’t want to release Bradberry, who statistically was the worst corner in the NFL last year because of the cap hit – as a post-June 1 release, he would count $4.305 million in dead money against this year’s cap if the Eagles release him and $10.813 million in 2015.

That may still happen, but by moving him to safety, the Eagles add depth at a position they’re very light at and perhaps boost Bradberry’s potential trade value.

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship are the starters at safety, but the only real depth the Eagles have at safety is another converted corner, Mekhi Garner, who’s played 27 career defensive snaps, and 2^nd-year pro Sydney Brown, who' still rehabbing a torn ACL. Tristin McCollum and Andre' Sam are also deep on the depth chart at safety.

So at worst, in the long-term, the Eagles put off making a decision on the 30-year-old Bradberry. At best? Who knows, maybe they add some much-needed safety depth.

Bradberry was on the practice field Tuesday at the start of the Eagles’ three-day mandatory minicamp at the NovaCare Complex.

"He played the majority of his career at corner and then was able to do some things at the dime (last year) and some things at the nickel, some things at the corner,” Sirianni said. "And now he's working some of the safety stuff, which you'll see (at practice). 

"So I'm excited about that and his opportunity to be able to (play safety). You've seen a lot of good corners in this league (move to safety). I guess the first guy that comes to my mind is Charles Woodson, he went from an elite corner to being an elite nickel to be an elite safety. And so I'm excited about that for James, that he's able to do more.”

Woodson, a 1^st-ballot Hall of Famer, made eight Pro Bowls and two 1^st-team All-Pro teams as a corner with the Raiders and Packers before moving back to safety in his 15^th season with Green Bay. He played his last four seasons at safety. He had 54 interceptions and 11 pick-sixes as a corner. In 2012, at the age of 36, he switched to safety with the Packers before finishing his career back in Oakland. He had 11 INTs in four years as a safety.

Bradberry has had some nice seasons but is obviously in a different league than Woodson. He made his only Pro Bowl in 2020 with the Giants and has 19 INTs in eight seasons, four in two years with the Eagles.

Sirianni said Bradberry reacted positively when the move from corner to safety was suggested.

"James has always been a team guy since the moment he stepped in here and from what I understand everywhere else he's been because we obviously did our research before we brought James in in 2022,” Sirianni said.

"And he's always been a great team guy. He'll do anything for his teammates. He'll do anything for the team.”

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/james-bradberry-still-eagle-no-longer-cornerback/588591/

17 hours ago, time2rock said:

That may still happen, but by moving him to safety, the Eagles add depth at a position they’re very light at and perhaps boost Bradberry’s potential trade value.

I’m not buying this theory. I’m not sure a player who graded as the worst CB in the league last year is going to garner much interest at Safety? Especially given it will be based on practice and not actual game time.

15 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I’m not buying this theory. I’m not sure a player who graded as the worst CB in the league last year is going to garner much interest at Safety? Especially given it will be based on practice and not actual game time.

I’m suggesting Howie may be looking to deal him to a team looking for CB depth (not S).  He was a very good CB prior to 2023.  Everything went to ish last year … other teams may see that and be willing to cough up a conditional late pick (the plus for us would just be getting out of the salary obligation).  Hell if Howie managed to deal Wentz there’s a decent chance he’d be able to deal Bradberry.

16 hours ago, time2rock said:

I’m suggesting Howie may be looking to deal him to a team looking for CB depth (not S).  He was a very good CB prior to 2023.  Everything went to ish last year … other teams may see that and be willing to cough up a conditional late pick (the plus for us would just be getting out of the salary obligation).  Hell if Howie managed to deal Wentz there’s a decent chance he’d be able to deal Bradberry.

Sorry bud I was referring to the article not that you were suggesting it. Do I think that they could trade Bradberry to a CB needy team? Yeah I could believe that. But I’m not buying that moving him to Safety is to make him more appealing.

6 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Sorry bud I was referring to the article not that you were suggesting it. Do I think that they could trade Bradberry to a CB needy team? Yeah I could believe that. But I’m not buying that moving him to Safety is to make him more appealing.

I don’t disagree with any of that.  Right now the numbers are somewhat stacked at CB and we’re light at S so giving him reps there can’t hurt (maybe he surprises and we end up not being able to deal him and we end up needing him there in a pinch.  Just spitballin’.

7 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Sorry bud I was referring to the article not that you were suggesting it. Do I think that they could trade Bradberry to a CB needy team? Yeah I could believe that. But I’m not buying that moving him to Safety is to make him more appealing.

I tend to agree. I don't think this is about making him more appealing in a trade. They are just getting him some work at a position where there isn't a logjam of competition. Last season they asked him to play a bit as the nickel when we were thin there because of injuries. So maybe they saw something they thought he could build on with a position switch.

In the end, to me, this is like moving JJAW to TE. It's just a way to justify keeping him on the roster (mainly due to his contract) without watering down the competition for the job he basically lost because of his performance last year. You watched guys like Sheldon Brown play CB and you definitely felt his skill set would convert to safety seamlessly. I didn't get that impression watching Bradberry. So, IMO, this kind of last ditch position change screams "This player will get released on roster cut day!" I'm just not able to see how this in any way would make him more valuable to other teams. His value is that he played like an All-Pro 2 seasons ago and maybe a team that needs an experienced vet CB feels his regression had much to do with the Eagles' coaching changes last year. I don't see any reason why he can't rebound and play well again if he puts in the effort. If a team trades for him at all it will be to play CB.

6 hours ago, brkmsn said:

sly. I didn't get that impression watching Bradberry.

I know others have joked about him not really making many tackles etc but I do tend to agree I’m not sure his skill set necessarily translates to a Safety. He’s not a small guy but I’ve never really thought of him as a hard hitting physical corner either.

No way he makes the 53 man roster. He is too slow.