Nigel Bradham, Philadelphia Eagles. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Nigel Bradham is the latest addition to the New Orleans Saints defense.
The New Orleans Saints just added an interesting wrinkle to their defense in Nigel Bradham.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, “Former Eagles’ LB Nigel Bradham reached agreement on a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints.” Bradham enters his ninth NFL season out of Florida State. The former fourth-round pick spent his first four years in the league with the Buffalo Bills. He spent the last four with the Philadelphia Eagles, winning a Super Bowl back in 2017.
Bradham joins a linebacking corps with the likes of Kiko Alonso, Alex Anzalone, Zack Baun and Demario Davis. If the Saints are going to win the NFC South for a fourth year in a row, they will need to lean on Dennis Allen’s well-rounded defense. While offense has been the team’s strength for the better part of two decades, this defense has the chance to be one of their best in years.
How much an impact will Nigel Bradham have on the Saints defense?
If Saints fans thinks he’s going to be the piece that gets the team over the top and into the Super Bowl, think again. The Saints were good enough as is to orchestrate a deep playoff run, regardless of if Bradham signed a one-year deal with the team or not. Unless they get the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Saints will need to learn how to win road playoff games if they want to get to Tampa.
What Bradham does bring to the Saints defense is a championship mentality. He was part of a great team in Philadelphia three years ago and made the playoffs each of the last three seasons under head coach Doug Pederson. Bradham goes from one excellent defensive coordinator in Jim Schwartz with Philadelphia to Allen now with the Saints. At the very least, Bradham adds depth.
Of course, depth will be a key component to winning Super Bowl 55 this year, especially in the age of the coronavirus. Should a good team like the Saints get ravaged by injuries or illness at a particular position group, that could ruin their postseason chances. New Orleans must understand that it has this year and possibly next to win another Super Bowl with Drew Brees at quarterback.
By adding Bradham, the Saints tell us they’re all-in on winning a second Lombardi Trophy in 2020.