The Philadelphia Eagles spent a lot of resources in the 2024 NFL Draft on improving the cornerback position, and their investments might pay off sooner than expected.
After chose Quinyon Mitchell, a cornerback from Toledo in the first round, then traded up in the second round to get Cooper DeJean from Iowa, the general manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles got two of the top players at the position from the talented draft class.
It seems like the Eagles were planning to upgrade the cornerback position, especially after cornerback James Bradberry and Darius Slay struggled at the end of the 2023 season. The team had a tough finish to the regular season, losing five of six games, and then got knocked out in the NFC Wild Card round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The secondary had a lot of breakdowns and poor tackling.
According to NFL insider Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, Bradberry might be one of the unexpected players cut from teams in the upcoming period.
“The Philadelphia Eagles clearly needed to strengthen the secondary in the draft,” Meirov writes. “And they did, by picking Quinyon Mitchell in the first round and trading up for Cooper DeJean in the second round.
“James Bradberry had a disappointing season, so it's reasonable to question what role he will have if Mitchell and/or DeJean prove they should play right away alongside Darius Slay.”
Bradberry, who was named a Second-Team All-Pro in an excellent 2022 season, had a significant decline in performance in 2023.
Last season, Bradberry, who signed a three-year contract worth $38 million in 2022, was frequently targeted by opposing quarterbacks who had a very high 108.6 passer rating when throwing in his direction, with receivers averaging 12.3 yards per catch, according to Pro Football Focus.
The 30 year old Bradberry had 54 tackles and only one interception last season, and his difficulties likely led the Eagles to aggressively target cornerbacks during the draft.
What's the Cost of Cutting James Bradberry?
Whether the Eagles decide to release Bradberry will likely depend on Mitchell or DeJean showing in the spring and during training camp that they deserve to start, especially considering the financial impact of such a bold move.
Releasing Bradberry before June 1 would result in a $15.118 million charge for his remaining guaranteed money, as reported by Spotrac, and an additional $10.813 million on the team's cap for the upcoming season.
Even if they consider designating Bradberry as a June 1 release- which usually helps teams free up cap space- it would offer little relief.
If the Eagles decided to release Bradberry after June 1, they would face a $4.3 million charge for guaranteed money, $10.813 million against the cap in 2025, and no additional cap space for the upcoming season.
On the other hand, releasing Bradberry after June 1 in 2025 would create $4.724 million in cap space for the following season, while resulting in a $3.09 million charge in 2025 and $7.718 million in 2026.
Unless Bradberry has a terrible showing during training camp and preseason, it's unlikely that the Eagles will let go of the experienced cornerback due to the significant financial implications of such a decision.
Howie Roseman Explains Contract Extension Thought Process
Additionally, the Eagles have been very active in free agency, adding star players to the roster. General manager Howie Roseman has also made sure to take care of some of the team's talented players who were drafted by the Eagles.
Former Eagles draft picks DeVonta Smith, offensive linemen Landon Dickerson and Jordan Mailata, and star wide receiver A.J. Brown all signed new contracts this offseason, making them some of the highest-paid players in their positions.
During an interview on SiriusXM, Roseman explains why Philadelphia focuses on taking care of their own players.
“You can’t have a good culture if you’re not rewarding the people who have been here, the people that have kind of gone through it,” Roseman said on the Adam Schein Show on SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio on May 3. “It’s great to sign free agents, but we have to get back and make sure we’re continuing to draft, developing, and paying our own on and off the field. That’s really important.”
In addition to this offseason’s moves, the Eagles also signed quarterback Jalen Hurts and tight end Dallas Goedert to long-term contracts last offseason.
Roseman’s skill in the NFL Draft, effective cap management, and focus on keeping a core group of homegrown players have helped the Eagles consistently compete. They even made two Super Bowl appearances with two different head coaches and quarterbacks within five years.
“I think that’s kind of the philosophy there in trying to do any of our deals early,” Roseman said. “Just rewarding them, them understanding that we’re doing it in a moment that shows them how much we really want them here and from their perspective. Being out there first has gotta be a good feeling for them as well.”
