As the adage goes, another day brings the release of yet another Eagles cornerback.
Although they do not explicitly state it, this assertion holds true in this instance. On Monday, the Philadelphia Eagles released Darius Slay, followed by the release of their other cornerback, James Bradberry, on Tuesday. The organization evidently seeks to rejuvenate its roster and conserve salary cap space, which they are achieving with these transactions.
The Buccaneers are familiar with James Bradberry, who formerly played for the Carolina Panthers, excelling in his role before transferring to the New York Giants and subsequently the Philadelphia Eagles. He earned Second Team All-Pro honors in 2022 and was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2020. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers require reinforcement at cornerback due to the uncertainty surrounding Jamel Dean’s future and a significant deficiency in depth at the position.
Thus, there exists a vacancy in the secondary…
Should the Buccaneers acquire James Bradberry?
Likely not. At 31, Bradberry is not excessively aged; nonetheless, he did not participate in the 2024 season due to sustaining one of the most severe injuries a cornerback may endure in their career.
Bradberry performed well in football during 2023; but, in the 2024 training camp, he sustained tears in both his Achilles and Soleus muscles, resulting in his placement on Injured Reserve. An Achilles injury for a cornerback is detrimental, as it significantly restricts movement and may pose challenges for Bradberry’s comeback.
The Buccaneers are now attempting to improve their health status. The Buccaneers traded Carlton Davis last season due to injury concerns that diminished his value, and they are encountering a comparable issue with Jamel Dean. Dean has not completed a full season since joining the Buccaneers and has recorded one interception over two seasons, prompting Tampa Bay to seek greater ball production from an alternative cornerback—preferably one with improved health reliability.
Currently, Bradberry does not meet the criteria, hence the Buccaneers will probably forgo acquiring him.
