Vic Fangio provides insight into Eagles' plan for James Bradberry

Since the end of the 2023 season, there has been a whole lot of speculation regarding James Bradberry's future with the Philadelphia Eagles. Many thought that Bradberry would be cut, or traded, before training camp rolled around.. But, camp is upon us, and Bradberry is still on Philadelphia's roster.

A tough transition for Bradberry

While speaking with media members early in camp, new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio discussed Philadelphia's plan for Bradberry, which includes shifting him to safety. Obviously, switching positions deep into a career isn't an easy task, but Fangio is confident that Bradberry's intellect and feel for the game will help him make the shift successfully.

"You say you've seen that a lot over the years. The truth is: No, you haven't," Fangio said. "The list of guys successfully transitioning from corner to safety is very small -- with success. … We'll see if [Bradberry] can do that. ... James has got a good feel for football, very knowledgeable. So that will help him in that transition."

This move is largely the result of Bradberry's underwhelming play last season after a solid season in 2022. The Eagles prioritized the cornerback position in the 2024 NFL Draft, as they selected corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first two rounds, respectively. Plus, veteran Darius Slay is still penciled in as a starter for next season. Perhaps shifting to safety will be the thing that extends Bradberry's tenure in Philadelphia.

Bradberry won't solely play safety in 2024 though, as the team still plans to get him some reps at his natural position. "He'll still play some corner for us too," Fangio said of Bradberry.

Things could change over the course of camp, but at this point it seems like the plan is for Bradberry to be a versatile reserve for Philadelphia's secondary. He isn't projected to start at either cornerback or safety, but he could potentially see reps at either position if needed. This of course depends on Bradberry's ability to adapt to the safety spot. If he can do that, he could have an opportunity to still be an impactful player for Philadelphia's defense in 2024.

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