James Bradberry Listed as Free Agent Cardinals Should Target

The Arizona Cardinals will need to add to their defense in 2023. CBS Sports believes cornerback James Bradberry is ready for the task.

Ryan Sanudo | Feb 3, 2023

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Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are casting a wide net in their head coaching search. But when that situation is resolved, they will turn their focus to free agency.

First-year general manager Monti Ossenfort will have two things working against him. He will have the task of fixing a 4-13 team with an estimated 14.4 million in cap space while also having 30-plus Cardinals players entering the 2023 free agent class.

Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports recently compiled a list of one free agent each NFL team should "prioritize" this offseason.

For the Cardinals, it was Philadelphia Eagles cornerback James Bradberry.

"If we are being honest, the Cardinals need a lot of help this offseason," Dajani wrote on February 2. "Defensively, the pass rush and secondary stick out, and the Cardinals could certainly use a veteran at cornerback. Plus, they have enough cap to buy one. Bradberry was a key addition for the Philadelphia Eagles last offseason, and he earned his first All-Pro honor at 29 years old with 44 combined tackles, 17 passes defended and three interceptions. Truly an underrated player."

It would make sense for Arizona to sign Bradberry, especially if the team is unable to retain impending free agent cornerback Byron Murphy, who suffered a season-ending back injury in 2022.

Bradberry, 29, made the Pro Bowl with the New York Giants in 2020 but was released in May of 2022 as part of a cost-cutting measure. The Eagles then scooped him up for a one-year deal worth $7.25 million.

The Eagles have reaped the rewards of signing Bradberry. This season, opposing quarterbacks posted a passing-efficiency rating of 51.6 when throwing to receivers covered by Bradberry, which ranked as the second-lowest in the NFL.

Spotrac has Bradberry's market value of around $17.1 million annually for three seasons.

Currently, the veteran cornerback will be preparing to face the offense of the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.