NFL
The New York Giants Just Unintentionally Offered the Philadelphia Eagles a Much-Needed Gift
The Philadelphia Eagles addressed multiple needs during a stellar NFL draft weekend for general manager Howie Roseman. They finally found their new No. 1 wide receiver in A.J. Brown, added two difference-makers from one of the best defenses in college football history in Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean, and nabbed Jason Kelce’s eventual replacement in Cam Jurgens.
It was an exceptional weekend for Roseman and company, but there are still a few holes on Philly’s roster heading into the 2022-23 season. One of those holes is the cornerback position opposite Darius Slay.
There aren’t many desirable CB options left in free agency, but the New York Giants just gave their division rival an unexpected gift by releasing former Pro Bowler James Bradberry.
The Eagles are still searching for a starting cornerback
It’s been a dream offseason for Roseman and the Eagles thus far. Philadelphia entered the spring with holes at the wide receiver, defensive line, linebacker, cornerback, and safety positions, and the front office acted quickly to shore up almost all of them.
The Eagles signed pass-rusher Haason Reddick to a three-year deal in March before re-signing Fletcher Cox and Derek Barnett and drafting Davis to solidify the defensive line. Adding Kyzir White in free agency and Dean through the draft bolstered the linebacking corpse in a big way. Then came the shocking trade on NFL draft night that brought Brown to Philly to immediately step in as the No. 1 WR for Jalen Hurts.
Philadelphia already has a more talented roster than it did at any point last season, but the starting cornerback spot opposite Slay is still a massive question mark. If the season started today, second-year CB Zech McPhearson would most likely be the starter. Considering McPhearson started just one game as a rookie and finished the year with only one pass defended and seven solo tackles, the Eagles wouldn’t feel confident sending him out there in Week 1.
Roseman filled the team’s CB2 opening at the buzzer last year by signing Steven Nelson days before the start of training camp. You can bet he’ll be on the hunt for a veteran starter over the next few months.
The Giants may have just gifted the Eagles their new starting corner
The Eagles need to add a capable CB2 before the start of the 2022-23 season. Thankfully for them, their hated division rival just gave them a perfect solution on a silver platter.
On Monday, the Giants released former Pro Bowl CB James Bradberry after two seasons with the team. Bradberry has been a playmaker in the secondary throughout his first six years in the NFL, as he’s racked up 82 passes defended and 15 interceptions. He’s also missed just two games over the last five seasons, which should entice an Eagles team that has been plagued by secondary injuries in recent years.
According to Over the Cap, the Eagles have $10.2 million in cap space to potentially throw at Bradberry. Considering he’s now the clear No. 1 CB available in free agency, Philly should make a serious push to bring in the former Giant.
There’s no time to get complacent now, Howie. Make the call.
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