James Bradberry is still an Eagle; what happens next?

James Bradberry is still an Eagle; what happens next? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

He’s been benched. He’s been demoted. He’s been moved away from the position he’s played his entire eight-year NFL career.

A Pro Bowler in 2021, a 2nd-team all-pro in 2022, recipient of a giant new contract in 2023, James Bradberry is now toiling in obscurity for the Eagles as a 2nd-team safety, playing opposite Tristin McCollum.

If you thought the Eagles would have released or traded Bradberry by now after a disastrous 2023 season, join the club.

But Howie Roseman has a certain way of doing things and if there’s no benefit to releasing a player, he won’t do it. As long as there’s even a minuscule chance of trading Bradberry, he may as well hang onto the veteran corner, who turns 31 a week from Sunday.

You know Roseman is keeping his eye on 31 other NFL training camps to see if a team loses a couple corners to injury or finds itself lighter than they thought at the position.

It can’t be easy going from all-pro to backing up a new position in two years. It’s got to be humbling. But you know as long as Bradberry is here he’s going to be a professional.

“He’s been great,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said before practice Thursday. “You know, he’s eager to learn. He’s embraced the possibilities of it. He’s been great.”

It’s easy to forget just how good Bradberry was in the 2022 Super Bowl season.

Opposing quarterbacks targeted him 86 times and completed just 39 pases for 382 yards and two touchdowns. Their 51.6 passer rating was 2nd-lowest of 111 defensive backs who were targeted at least 50 times, with only Seahawks’ rookie Riq Woolen finishing the season with a lower rating (48.7).

Bradberry allowed just 4.4 yards per target, also 2nd-lowest in the league (behind only another Seahawks defensive back, Ryan Neal, at 3.9). Quarterbacks completed just 45.3 percent of their passes with Bradberry in coverage, again 2nd-best in the league (behind…

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Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia

Publish date : 2024-07-26 11:00:00

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