March 14, 2023   2 MIN READ

Corner’s Back

Birds Return Bradberry With Major Contract

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After the Eagles’ season ended, pending free-agent cornerback James Bradberry told reporters he had hoped to land with a good team and that he wasn’t coming cheap.

On Tuesday, he landed with the defending NFC championships and agreed to terms on a major contract – a reported 3-year, $38-million pact with upside for more, per ESPN.

Bradberry made second-team All Pro in his one year with the Eagles following his release from the Giants after the 2021 season. The 29-year-old corner recorded three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, and 17 passes defended in 17 games, helping the Eagles finish with the NFL’s top pass defense en route to a Super Bowl appearance.

James Bradberry

ITB PHOTO: Eagles CB James Bradberry return to the team on a 3-year deal after making All Pro in his only season with the team.

For his seven-year career, Bradberry has 18 interceptions and 99 pass breakups.

The one-time Pro Bowl corner reestablished himself as one of the NFL’s better corners and should be a major asset for new Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai, especially given the uncertain future of opposite corner Darius Slay, who’s seeking a new deal.

Bradberry’s $12.6 million average annual value is slightly less than the new deal agreed to by free-agent corner Jamel Dean, who agreed to a 4-year, $52-million dollar – $13 million annually – in returning to Tampa Bay.

The Eagles, who already lost defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, linebacker T.J. Edwards, and safety Marcus Epps in free agency, could shift focus to retaining safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who has not yet agreed to terms.

Earlier on Tuesday, the team moved on from Pro Bowl running back Miles Sanders by agreeing to terms free agent Rashaad Penny and returning Boston Scott, both on 1-year deals.

Deals can’t officially be consummated until Wednesday’s start of the new league year.

– Geoff Mosher (@geoffmoshernfl) is co-host of the “Inside the Birds” podcast and staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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About The Author

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Geoff Mosher is an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years experience covering the Eagles, the NFL and other college and pro sports across several different multimedia platforms. He is co-host of the acclaimed Inside the Birds podcast, the leading podcast for intel on the Philadelphia Eagles, and co-host on 97.3 ESPN's drive-time show. He has also hosted on Philadelphia's sports-talk station, 94.1 WIP and 97.5 The Fanatic. Geoff was the lead Eagles Insider from 2012-2015 for NBC Sports Philadelphia, where he wrote for the website and appeared daily on the station's TV shows, including Quick Slants, Philly Sports Talk, Eagles Pregame/Postgame Live and Eagles Extra. Prior to joining NBC Sports, Geoff worked the Eagles beat from 2005-2012 for the Wilmington News Journal, where he broke several major news stories and also won an Associated Press Sports Editors award under the category of Breaking News for his coverage of the sudden death of Phillies play by play broadcaster Harry Kalas. Geoff has appeared on ESPN's SportsCenter, NFL Network, NBC Sports Network, FOX29, 6ABC and has conducted interviews for Sirius/XM NFL radio and countless other radio stations across the country.

4 Comments

  • 2 years ago

    Andre Smith

    If Bradberry was signed with Darius Slay’s contract on the books as is, does Slay restructuring it (if he becomes willing) save use 10-12m as has been reported, and does that free up the money we need for Chauncey Gardner Johnson?