James Bradberry, New York Giants. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
James Bradberry needs to find a new NFL team after being released by the New York Giants.
The New York Giants are no longer the boss of James Bradberry now, as the Pro Bowl cornerback has been released after two seasons with the team.
Bradberry earned his first Pro Bowl nod during his first season with the team in 2020. The former second-round pick by the Carolina Panthers out of Samford has quietly been one of the better defensive backs in the NFC over the last half decade or so. Still on the good side of 30, look for Bradberry to link up with a team that will absolutely win more games than the G-Men this season.
Here are three teams that make the most sense to sign him in the latest wave of NFL free agency.
James Bradberry released: 3 new NFL teams for Pro Bowl cornerback
3
Los Angeles Rams
NFC West
If Jalen Ramsey can’t have Tyrann Mathieu, then give him James Bradberry
I mean, why the hell not? The Los Angeles Rams do not care about draft picks whatsoever, as general manager Les Snead gets to operate with Monopoly Wal-Mart money when assembling his roster. While the defending Super Bowl champions missed out on Tyrann Mathieu in his free agency to his hometown New Orleans Saints, maybe Bradberry suffices Jalen Ramsey’s demands?
Though Bradberry is not as versatile of a defensive chess piece as Mathieu is well, because nobody is, he has the necessary skill set to play well alongside another transcendent cornerback talent in Ramsey. With a Super Bowl already on Stan Kroenke’s mantle, the Rams can afford to take a home-run cut on a player the rebuilding Giants did not even want to keep around in 2022.
Even if the NFC West got a little easier with Russell Wilson switching conferences, the Rams should operate under the principle of championship or bust this season. No team has repeated in the Super Bowl era since the New England Patriots went back-to-back in 2003 and 2004 nearly two decades ago. The Rams have as good of a chance as anyone to pull off the improbable here.
By signing Bradberry, the back-end of the Rams’ strong defense would get even more menacing.