Philadelphia Eagles cornerback James Bradberry had an atrocious 2023, and the team could trade him and move forward with younger players. After earning Second-Team All-Pro honors during his first season with the club, Bradberry was supposed to be a featured part of one of the NFL’s more complete defenses in 2023. Instead, the former second-round pick was one of the worst cornerbacks in the game, allowing 11 touchdowns while finishing with a 54.4 PFF grade, the 100th-best mark out of 127 eligible players.
Now entering his age-31 season, there is a chance that age has caught up with the veteran. However, his subpar performance could also stem from subpar playcalling, as Matt Patricia has a gift for bringing out the worst in everyone. According to Bleacher Report, the Arizona Cardinals could gamble and trade for James Bradberry.
Cardinals, Eagles Linked In James Bradberry Trade Talks
This James Bradberry trade proposal makes all the sense in the world. Current head coach Jonathan Gannon was Phialdelphia’s defensive coordinator during Bradberry’s dominant 2022 and should know how to bring out the best in the defensive back. Even if Bradberry can’t recapture his past form, he could still help this secondary. Arizona has one of the worst cornerback groups in the league, and even the 2023 version of Bradberry would increase the overall talent.
James Bradberry might not have the trade value of seasons past, but some team should be willing to give up a late-round pick for his services. In no particular order, these five teams make the most sense.
Other Potential Destinations
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have yet to properly replace star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. While the team believes in the potential of Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson, they should consider a trade for a veteran like James Bradberry. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo knows how to get the best out of his players, and Bradberry could be a vital part of Kansas City’s quest to win three championships in as many seasons.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers defensive strength lies in their elite front seven. While these star-studded players usually get after the quarterback quickly, problems arise when the blocking holds up. San Francisco’s secondary is nothing to write home about and could improve with a James Bradberry trade. Philadelphia might need to eat a portion of the contract for salary cap purposes, but the 49ers could end up with a solid starter if they pull the trigger.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons secondary is so bad that Kevin King will probably start in Week 1. Signing Kirk Cousins to a $180 million contract means this team thinks they can win now, but they’ll need a better defense to go on a deep run. James Bradberry is anything but a safe bet, but the one-time Pro Bowler offers some upside in a trade. If he bounces back, and A.J. Terrell can turn a major weakness into a strength.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers aren’t ready to compete in 2024, but they still want more experience in their secondary. The team tried to sign former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore but couldn’t agree to terms. Gilmore is still on the open market, but they could pivot and trade for James Bradberry. Even with all the offensive upgrades, Carolina will still win games with defense in the upcoming season. While they probably won’t make the playoffs, Bradberry could improve the defense and put less stress on Bryce Young.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers spent the offseason rebuilding the offense in Jim Harbaugh’s image. While most of those changes were necessary ones, Los Angeles mostly ignored the defense. The unit should improve without Brandon Staley but this team could still benefit from a James Bradberry trade. You can never have too many cornerbacks when you share a division with Kansas City, and Los Angeles has the cap space to gamble on the veteran.
Main Photo: Eric Hartline – USA Today Sports
