Washington Commanders make sense for James Bradberry
By Hunter Noll
New free agent cornerback James Bradberry makes a ton of sense as a target for the Washington Commanders
The New York Giants officially cut ties with cornerback James Bradberry on Monday. Now one of the top free agents on the market, it makes sense for the Washington Commanders to pursue him – heavily.
Something you’re probably going to hear a lot of is how Bradberry used to play for the Carolina Panthers with head coach Ron Rivera. There has been plenty of criticism that Rivera has brought in what feels like every former Panthers player that ever played for him.
To be fair, there does seem to be quite a few former Carolina players getting chances in Washington. That doesn’t mean it’s always a bad idea though. And Bradberry is a phenomenal cornerback. So don’t let any narratives turn you against this move.
The Commanders don’t have bad cornerbacks. But the secondary could certainly still use some help. Kendall Fuller is very good (but he didn’t perform like he did in 2020 in 2021).
William Jackson III is a good cornerback, but he has his weaknesses. Benjamin St-Juste looked phenomenal in his rookie year before injuries ended his year. Can he build off that though?
Even if all three of them play at a high level, you need more than that. And Washington runs into a bit of a problem after that. Jeremy Reeves has shown potential. And rookie Christian Holmes could contribute much more than you’d expect from a seventh-round pick.
The Commanders need to stop being content with “good enough” though. That’s what bad franchises do.
Sure, you could roll with the current group and they will probably be decent. Solid even. But why not add someone who was a Pro Bowler in 2020 and had a fantastic year in 2021?
Bradberry gives you flexibility too. He’s one of the better zone cornerbacks in the league. That’s something that Jackson III struggles with (more of a man coverage DB). This would allow Washington to run different sets and some hybrids.
Keeping opposing offenses guessing, and maybe limiting using people in schemes they aren’t as comfortable in.
Yes, James Bradberry would be another former Carolina Panthers player joining the Washington Commanders. If you complain about this one though, I don’t know what to tell you. Adding a great cornerback should never be a questioned move.