# James Bradberry
**James Bradberry** (James Bradberry IV, born in 1993) is an American professional football cornerback who played in the NFL for the [Carolina Panthers](https://www.edgepedia.org/carolina-panthers) (2016–2019), the [New York Giants](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-giants) (2020–2021), and the [Philadelphia Eagles](https://www.edgepedia.org/philadelphia-eagles) (2022–2025), earning Pro Bowl honors in 2021 and second-team All-Pro recognition in 2022.[1](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/saints/bdtfiyncvv8jbogzllum.pdf) A second-round draft pick of the Panthers in 2016 out of Samford University, he was released by the Eagles after an injury-shortened 2024 season.[2](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradJa00.htm) • [3](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-release-james-bradberry)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Draft | Carolina Panthers, 2nd round (62nd overall), 2016 NFL Draft[2](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradJa00.htm) |
| College | Samford (2012–15), Football Championship Subdivision; finished with eight interceptions[4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/saints/r6gux6hb5onflqrfhpmk.pdf) • [5](https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-draft-cb-bradberry-in-second-round-17087565) |
| Size | 6 feet 1, 212 pounds[6](https://www.giants.com/news/james-bradberry-agrees-to-terms-carolina-panthers-nfl-free-agency-2020) |
| Honors | Pro Bowl 2021; second-team All-Pro 2022[1](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/saints/bdtfiyncvv8jbogzllum.pdf) |
| Teams | Panthers 2016–2019, Giants 2020–2021, Eagles 2022 onward; 125 career games[2](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradJa00.htm) |
| 2022 coverage | Next Gen Stats' No. 1 coverage player: 54.7 passer rating allowed, −32.8 targeted expected points added[7](https://www.nfl.com/news/next-gen-stats-top-10-coverage-players-of-2022-james-bradberry-reigns-but-what-a) |
| Hometown | Pleasant Grove, Alabama[1](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/saints/bdtfiyncvv8jbogzllum.pdf) |
## College career at Samford
Bradberry played college football at [Samford University](https://www.edgepedia.org/samford-university) in [Birmingham, Alabama](https://www.edgepedia.org/birmingham-alabama), from 2012 to 2015, after high school in Pleasant Grove.[4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/saints/r6gux6hb5onflqrfhpmk.pdf) • [8](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-james-bradberry-explains-how-philadelphia-revitalized-his-career) He received little interest from top-tier college programs coming out of high school, according to his high school coach, and finished his FCS career with eight interceptions.[9](https://www.panthers.com/news/coach-s-take-cb-james-bradberry-17117261) • [5](https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-draft-cb-bradberry-in-second-round-17087565) He became the first Carolina Panther ever drafted from Samford and the second-highest drafted player in the program's history.[10](https://www.panthers.com/news/five-things-to-know-about-james-bradberry-17097398) • [11](https://samfordsports.com/sports/bulldog-club/roster/james-bradberry/10107)
## Carolina Panthers (2016–2019)
The Panthers selected Bradberry 62nd overall in the 2016 draft, and he started immediately in an [NFC South](https://www.edgepedia.org/nfc-south) division that featured receivers [Julio Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/julio-jones), Michael Thomas, and [Mike Evans](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-evans) twice a year.[8](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-james-bradberry-explains-how-philadelphia-revitalized-his-career) He started every game he played for the Panthers, 60 in the regular season and one in the postseason, and missed only five games in his first four seasons.[6](https://www.giants.com/news/james-bradberry-agrees-to-terms-carolina-panthers-nfl-free-agency-2020) • [4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/saints/r6gux6hb5onflqrfhpmk.pdf) His Carolina totals included 268 tackles (229 solo), eight interceptions returned for 53 yards, 55 passes defensed, 3.0 sacks, and one forced fumble.[12](https://www.giants.com/news/james-bradberry-dave-gettleman-free-agency-nfl-2020-carolina-panthers-contract)
## New York Giants (2020–2021)
**Free agency and Pro Bowl season.** [Dave Gettleman](https://www.edgepedia.org/dave-gettleman), the Giants' general manager who had drafted Bradberry in Carolina, signed him as a free agent on March 26, 2020, to a three-year contract worth $43.5 million with $29.8 million guaranteed, an average of $14.5 million per year that placed him among the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league at the time.[4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/saints/r6gux6hb5onflqrfhpmk.pdf) • [13](https://as.com/us/us/2020/03/29/nfl/1585447862_703808.html) In 2020 he made the [Pro Bowl](https://www.edgepedia.org/pro-bowl) after recording 54 tackles, 18 passes defensed, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.[14](https://as.com/us/nfl/new-york-giants-cortan-a-james-bradberry-n/) He had 82 career passes defensed and led his team in that category in each of his six NFL seasons through 2021.[15](https://www.giants.com/news/giants-release-cornerback-james-bradberry)
**Release.** On May 9, 2022, the Giants released Bradberry for salary-cap reasons, creating $9.43 million in cap space for 2022; general manager Joe Schoen said Bradberry "is a starting cornerback in this league, it's just where we're at financially."[14](https://as.com/us/nfl/new-york-giants-cortan-a-james-bradberry-n/)
## Philadelphia Eagles (2022–2025)
Bradberry signed a one-year deal with the Eagles for the 2022 season and had one of his best years, earning second-team All-Pro honors at cornerback as part of a secondary paired with [Darius Slay](https://www.edgepedia.org/darius-slay).[8](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-james-bradberry-explains-how-philadelphia-revitalized-his-career) • [16](https://apnews.com/article/d22a33a1df90e10eafc3e3a22c3002bf) Next Gen Stats ranked him the top coverage player of 2022: opposing quarterbacks posted a 54.7 passer rating when throwing his way, the lowest among qualifying defenders, and his targeted expected points added of −32.8 was the best mark in the league.[7](https://www.nfl.com/news/next-gen-stats-top-10-coverage-players-of-2022-james-bradberry-reigns-but-what-a) The Eagles won 14 regular-season games and reached [Super Bowl LVII](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-lvii), where they lost to the [Kansas City Chiefs](https://www.edgepedia.org/kansas-city-chiefs).[8](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-james-bradberry-explains-how-philadelphia-revitalized-his-career)
**Super Bowl LVII.** A late holding penalty called on Bradberry gave the Chiefs a crucial first down in the closing minutes, allowing Kansas City to run the clock down and kick the winning field goal.[17](https://time.com/6254980/mahomes-kansas-city-chiefs-super-bowl/)
**Decline and release.** Bradberry signed a three-year deal to remain in Philadelphia before the 2023 season, but his performance fell sharply: his PFF season coverage grade dropped from 80.0 in 2022 to 53.9 in 2023.[8](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-james-bradberry-explains-how-philadelphia-revitalized-his-career) • [18](https://sports.yahoo.com/roobs-eagles-observations-heck-happened-144116823.html) Before the 2024 season he suffered a lower-leg injury in training camp, with a recovery of six to eight weeks and no surgery required, and he transitioned from cornerback to safety to make the 53-man roster.[19](https://as.com/us/nfl/eagles-pierden-ocho-semanas-a-james-bradberry-por-lesion-n/) The Eagles later released him.[3](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-release-james-bradberry)
## Playing style
Bradberry was a large outside cornerback at 6 feet 1 and 212 pounds who started every game he played across four seasons in Carolina.[6](https://www.giants.com/news/james-bradberry-agrees-to-terms-carolina-panthers-nfl-free-agency-2020) His best seasons were marked by consistency in denying completions rather than high interception totals; in his peak 2022 season he finished with three interceptions while allowing three touchdowns, and his league-best targeted EPA came from repeatedly preventing pass attempts from succeeding.[7](https://www.nfl.com/news/next-gen-stats-top-10-coverage-players-of-2022-james-bradberry-reigns-but-what-a) He has described the position as requiring the ability to discard a bad play immediately and a willingness to tackle and support the run.[8](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-james-bradberry-explains-how-philadelphia-revitalized-his-career)
## References
1. [Philadelphia Eagles game notes: James Bradberry career statistics and honors](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/saints/bdtfiyncvv8jbogzllum.pdf)
2. [James Bradberry Stats, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradJa00.htm)
3. [Eagles release James Bradberry, PhiladelphiaEagles.com](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-release-james-bradberry)
4. [James Bradberry NFL draft profile PDF (Saints media guide excerpt)](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/saints/r6gux6hb5onflqrfhpmk.pdf)
5. [Panthers draft CB Bradberry in second round, Panthers.com](https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-draft-cb-bradberry-in-second-round-17087565)
6. [James Bradberry: 5 things you need to know, Giants.com](https://www.giants.com/news/james-bradberry-agrees-to-terms-carolina-panthers-nfl-free-agency-2020)
7. [Next Gen Stats' top 10 coverage players of 2022, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/next-gen-stats-top-10-coverage-players-of-2022-james-bradberry-reigns-but-what-a)
8. [Spadaro: James Bradberry explains how Philadelphia revitalized his career, PhiladelphiaEagles.com](https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-james-bradberry-explains-how-philadelphia-revitalized-his-career)
9. [Coach's Take: CB James Bradberry, Panthers.com](https://www.panthers.com/news/coach-s-take-cb-james-bradberry-17117261)
10. [Five things to know about James Bradberry, Panthers.com](https://www.panthers.com/news/five-things-to-know-about-james-bradberry-17097398)
11. [James Bradberry, Samford University Athletics Bulldog Club](https://samfordsports.com/sports/bulldog-club/roster/james-bradberry/10107)
12. [James Bradberry brings experience to Giants' DB room, Giants.com](https://www.giants.com/news/james-bradberry-dave-gettleman-free-agency-nfl-2020-carolina-panthers-contract)
13. [James Bradberry no esperaba recibir ofertas de los Giants, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2020/03/29/nfl/1585447862_703808.html)
14. [New York Giants cortan a James Bradberry, AS.com](https://as.com/us/nfl/new-york-giants-cortan-a-james-bradberry-n/)
15. [Giants release cornerback James Bradberry, Giants.com](https://www.giants.com/news/giants-release-cornerback-james-bradberry)
16. [Sauce Gardner voted top cornerback by panel of AP Pro Football Writers, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/d22a33a1df90e10eafc3e3a22c3002bf)
17. [America's Most Popular Sport Belongs to One Person: Patrick Mahomes, TIME](https://time.com/6254980/mahomes-kansas-city-chiefs-super-bowl/)
18. [In Roob's Eagles Observations: What the heck happened to James Bradberry?, Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/roobs-eagles-observations-heck-happened-144116823.html)
19. [Eagles pierden ocho semanas a James Bradberry por lesión, AS.com](https://as.com/us/nfl/eagles-pierden-ocho-semanas-a-james-bradberry-por-lesion-n/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Cornerbacks › Active professional cornerbacks*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license