B/R suggests trade proposal for Jaguars to make up ground in the AFC South

Cornerback seems to be a need for the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of the 2024 season. However, they seem to be comfortable with their current group. That said, they shouldn't rule out the idea of adding depth at the position. Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report came up with an interesting suggestion.

Davenport put together a list of shocking trades that could have an impact on the AFC race next season. He suggests Jacksonville trades for James Bradberry in exchange for a sixth-round pick, noting their defensive backfield isn't particularly stacked with playmakers.

"Finding veteran cornerback help this late in the offseason isn't easy—teams are usually loathe to part with even marginal talents at a position where depth can be hugely important. But as it happens, there's a former Pro Bowler who might just be available.

Granted, James Bradberry didn't play like a Pro Bowler last year—in fact, he played a sizable role in Philly's collapse defensively down the stretch. The Eagles used their first two draft picks in 2024 on cornerbacks, and head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters Philadelphia is considering moving Bradberry into a reserve role at safety."

Davenport believes that by trading for Bradberry, the Jaguars would be in a better position to slow down opposing offenses in the AFC South. He goes on to say that Jacksonville could use depth at cornerback while the 2020 Pro Bowl nod could benefit from a change of scenery.

Bradberry, a second-round pick in 2016, spent his four NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers. He then signed with the New York Giants in 2020 but was released before the start of the 2022 season. The Philadelphia Eagles quickly swooped in and signed him to a one-year deal.

After a productive season in which he logged three interceptions and 17 passes defensed, Bradberry got a new three-year deal worth $38 million last offseason. Unfortunately, his success from 2022 didn't carry over. He had a subpar campaign, giving up 12.3 yards per reception, along with an alarming nine touchdowns.

Not surprisingly, Philly used their first two picks in this year's draft to bolster the cornerback position. Having added Terrion Arnold, and Cooper DeJean, the Eagles no longer need Bradberry in a featured role. That's why they're moving him to safety.

The Jaguars, for their part, released Darious Williams in the offseason but signed Ronald Darby and later drafted Jarrian Jones 96th overall. While there are questions about Darby's viability as a starter at this stage of his career, Jones has been a bright spot throughout the offseason.

Given that Jones has flashed and brings plenty of upside, it's possible that the Jaguars aren't anticipating further additions to their cornerback group. Then again, it wouldn't hurt them to inquire about Bradberry and potentially add depth.

The Jaguars could acquire James Bradberry at a reasonable price

One reason the Eagles don't want to move on from James Bradberry is that they would incur a dead money hit of $4.3 million in 2024 and $10.8 million next year. Then again, if he cannot make the switch to safety or contribute, it may be hard to justify keeping him around. If that's the case, Philly might as well cut their losses, trade him, and get something in return, which is better than outright releasing him.

So let's say the Jaguars do want to trade for Bradberry. He wouldn't have a starting role in Jacksonville. Instead, he would be No. 3 or 4 on the depth chart. That's not necessarily a bad thing. The Samford product could take a step back and rebuild his stock. And given the injury rates in the NFL, there's a strong chance he would play. He could take advantage of the opportunity to show other teams that he's still got plenty of juice left.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars would be getting depth at a reasonable price. Besides having to give up a sixth-rounder for Bradberry, his base salary for 2024 is an affordable $1.2 million.

In the end, the Jacksonville Jaguars don't seem to be interested in making any additions to the cornerback position. But if injuries strike * knocking on wood *, trading for James Bradberry would most definitely make sense.

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