Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are officially the future of the Eagles secondary after Philly releases another Pro Bowler
Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles have made another move that suggests they're extremely confident in 2024 rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean running the secondary in 2025. After moving on from veteran cornerback and All-Pro Darius Slay on Monday, the team released All-Pro cornerback James Bradberry on Tuesday. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, […]
Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles have made another move that suggests they're extremely confident in 2024 rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean running the secondary in 2025.
After moving on from veteran cornerback and All-Pro Darius Slay on Monday, the team released All-Pro cornerback James Bradberry on Tuesday.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Bradberry, like Slay, will be a designated post-June 1 release.
*Editor's Note: A "designated post-June 1 cut" is when an NFL team releases a player before June 1, but the salary cap penalty is spread out through multiple years. This helps a team manage their salary cap space more and lets the player sign with a new team immediately.
Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer adds that the Eagles will save $2.1 million against the salary cap with $3.1 million in dead money by moving on from Bradberry.
It was surprising that Bradberry stuck around in 2024 after being tagged as a cut candidate last spring following a brutally disappointing 2023 season where he gave up 11 touchdowns and 740 receiving yards.
Nonetheless, the Eagles kept Bradberry around, and he ended up spending the entire season on injured reserve with a lower leg injury that he suffered during training camp. He did, however, join Slay in mentoring Mitchell and DeJean, who each ended the year as Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists.
Bradberry, an original second-round pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2016, spent four seasons in Carolina and two with the New York Giants before signing with the Eagles in 2022. He earned his first All-Pro nod that year, which led to the Eagles signing him to a three-year, $38 million contract extension in March of 2023.
Through seven seasons so far, Bradberry has logged 19 interceptions and 478 tackles in 125 games.
