Bears Free Agent Target: All-Pro James Bradberry |
With the NFL Combine going on and Free agency set to begin in two weeks, things will start getting exciting this offseason. That is a good thing when you consider how slow things have been, and with the Bears potentially cornering both the NFL draft and free agency, fans are eager to see what this team plans to do.
If you ask experts around the league, everyone has a different opinion about what this team will do this offseason. Most feel that offensive Line is needed, but you also have some focusing on playmakers, particularly game-changing WRs. However, I would argue that the defense needs the most significant overhaul, especially considering how poorly they played last season. Not only were the Bears second worst in points allowed and yards allowed per game, they also ranked second to last when it came to stopping the run. Throw in a non-existent pass rush that was dead last, and not much went right for the Bears defensively a season ago. However, even with all those struggles, you must give a little credit to the secondary as they more than held their own. Led by Jaylon Johnson and Eddie Jackson, Ryan Poles elected to bring in a pair of rookies, Kyler Gordon and Jaquon Brisker, last season to improve the secondary long-term. Brisker played lights out and appears to be the real deal, but Gordon has a bit more work to do and could have the Bears thinking about adding another veteran. If a veteran is what they are searching for, why not make an already solid secondary elite by going and getting the All-Pro James Bradberry. Part of the Eagles super bowl team this season, Bradberry is a free agent and is in a great position to get paid. He will arguably be the top CB on the market, and given the season he had on that defense will be compensated very well. Although he played well all season long, Bradberry will be forever known for his questionable holding call in the Superbowl that ultimately allowed the Chiefs to win the game. Bradberry would later admit that the right call was made, but was still hoping the refs would hold onto the flag. That is a painful way to see a season end, especially for a guy who the New York Giants cut in May before latching on with the Eagles. Bradberry landed in Philly and produced a second-team All-Pro campaign consisting of 44 tackles, including two tackles for loss, 17 passes defended, three interceptions, and a defensive touchdown. You can also dive a bit further and see how he played against Justin Jefferson and some of the elite WRs in the game as he was approaching lockdown status before the season came to a close. He now hits free agency after a career year, as several NFL teams, including the Bears, are in the market for top-end cornerbacks. As mentioned above, the Bears secondary is loaded with young talent, but they could use one more seasoned vet to put them over the top. Bradberry is that guy, as he has never had fewer than 10 pass breakups in a season. Entering his age 30 season, Bradberry will be playing in his eighth season as a pro and looking to secure 15 million a season or 45 million over a three-year contract. Bradberry would make an already strong Bears’ secondary potentially elite, and they can make it work with more money than anyone else. It now becomes a question of whether the Bears want to pay the man what he has earned. Chicago is one of many teams interested in securing Bradberry, so they better move fast if they want to add him to their defensive mix. The one big snag could be a potential Johnson extension, but that is something the team can figure out after this offseason.
