Sometimes, we feel like the Philadelphia Eagles grabbed James Bradberry later than they should have, that he wasted too much time in that stint with the rival New York Giants. Think back five years ago to the 2020 NFL offseason. Philly needed help at cornerback, and he was entering free agency.
His four years with the Carolina Panthers was impressive. That made him one of the top FA targets at corner along with former Dallas Cowboy Byron Jones. Philly missed out on landing both, but Howie Roseman executed a trade to land Darius Slay.
The Birds eventually acquired James, albeit two years later, so maybe the stars aligned and things worked out as they should. Together, Slay and J.B. teamed up to become one of the best cornerback duos the Eagles had seen in a long time.
Well, there isn't a Birds fan in the Delaware Valley who isn't aware of what has transpired in James' career since then. Age seemingly caught up with him. He lost a a step and battled injury. Now it appears Philly will move on.
Must read: The top 5 'Big Plays' of Darius Slay's Eagles tenure
Eagles will reportedly release James Bradberry with a post-June 1st designation.
Multiple NFL Insiders all report the same story. The Eagles are prepared to move on from James Bradberry. There's nothing to dislike about James Bradberry the person, but this is a wise move based off what he's provided recently.
The #Eagles continue to embrace youth in the secondary, as Darius Slay was released yesterday and James Bradberry today. https://t.co/frb5ieLYMq
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2025
Philadelphia is moving on from another cornerback: https://t.co/7J6BRL6QjK
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2025
He turns 32 years old on August 1st, and the tape hasn't been dishonest. The guy who earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2020 and a Second-Team All-Pro nod in 2022 probably isn't there anymore.
He'll be designated as a post-June 1st release. That will save Philly $2.1 million in cap space, so the move also makes sense financially.
Part of his legacy is he'll be remembered as the guy who drew the late defensive holding penalty in Super Bowl LVII. Some will discuss the rapid decline that came next season and the decision to gamble on him with an extension he couldn't live up to.
Truth be told, that's unfortunate because J.B. is a class act, a team-first guy that did everything he was asked to do. He mentored young players. He worked his tail off to learn a new position to help the organization but landed on injured reserve before the most recent season began.
And, even though he couldn't contribute on the field, he remained someone the young guys could call upon for advice. We appreciate you, sir! Always the professional, he recently spoke highly of his time here.
James Bradberry: "You know what? I'm glad I got to experience — one, I would say the Philadelphia Eagles fan base, greatest fan base in the world. I'm glad I got to experience the highs and the lows of being a part of the Philadelphia Eagles. I'm going to always cherish these…
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) March 4, 2025
We thank you for helping this team reach football's biggest game twice, and we're happy you have a Super Bowl ring to take with you.