Unfortunately for the veteran cornerback, James Bradberry‘s 2022 season will likely be defined by one play, during which he was called for a defensive holding penalty that set the Chiefs up with a new set of downs, allowing them to run down the clock and eventually beat the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. Despite that, Bradberry, who is set to hit free agency this offseason, had a phenomenal season that resulted in a second-team All-Pro selection and should be set up well in the open market, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic.
Bradberry has cashed in on free agency in the past. After an impressive rookie campaign in Carolina, Bradberry signed a three-year, $43.5M deal with the Giants. He rewarded them initially with a Pro Bowl year, but after his second season with the team, New York couldn’t cope with his cap hit and cut him. Unable to find a new deal that fit his demands, Bradberry opted for a one-year opportunity with the Eagles to reset his market value. The bet on himself was a successful one, as Bradberry heads into free agency as one of the top available corners on the market.
Bradberry is reportedly open to returning to Philadelphia, where he enjoyed playing, but hasn’t discussed anything with the team and has said that he “won’t play for cheap,” according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com.
Berman provided a quote that elaborates a bit mores, with Bradberry saying, “I would probably say I want to go to a team that has a good roster. And, of course, I want the number to be right. What that number is in my head, I haven’t figured it out. I got more time to think about it. But I know I want to be on a good roster.”
Perhaps already the best available cornerback in free agency, Bradberry will compete with Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters and Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones for the top contracts this offseason. All are around the same age, and while Jones and Bradberry had better seasons, Peters has much more accolades to his name.
Bradberry has made his desires known. He would love to stay with the Eagles (or any team capable of winning). But above that, Bradberry is absolutely looking to get paid what he’s worth. He may not fetch the $20M per year that top cornerbacks like Denzel Ward, Jalen Ramsey and Jaire Alexander are making, but he should surpass the $14.5M annual average he made with the Giants en route to around $16M-$18M per year.
