The Eagles have decided to move cornerback James Bradberry to safety, despite selecting two cornerbacks in the first round of the draft. The team has not given up on Bradberry entirely and believes he will be successful in his new position.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni expressed excitement about the opportunity for Bradberry to transition to safety, citing examples of successful cornerbacks who made the switch, such as Charles Woodson. Despite a dropoff in performance in 2023, Bradberry earned All-Pro honors at corner and signed a three-year, $38 million deal with the Eagles in March 2023. Without the contract, the team may have considered cutting him.
The move to safety comes as the Eagles seek depth behind their starting safeties, Reed Blankenship and CJ Gardner-Johnson. In addition to Bradberry, there are other players on the roster competing for the safety position, including Sydney Brown, Mekhi Garner, Tristin McCollum, and Andre Sam. Avonte Maddox, a veteran nickel corner, has also cross-trained at safety. Despite facing an injury during a mandatory minicamp practice, Bradberry’s commitment to the team has been praised by Sirianni
