What’s going on with James Bradberry? A look at all the big-money free agents who fled the Eagles in free agency. And why we shouldn’t rush to judgment about Nakobe Dean.
It’s a bye week edition of Roob’s 10 Random Eagles Observations and it starts with one of the biggest disappointments on the roster this year.
1. One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the Eagles so far this year is what happened to James Bradberry. The veteran cornerback played so well last year, was named 2nd-team all-pro, and in March pretty much every Eagles fan was relieved when they signed him to a three-year, $38 million deal that included $20 million guaranteed. But nine games in, Bradberry has been the Eagles’ biggest disappointment. There’s no perfect metric that measures cornerback play, but if you take a look at a few different analytics, you get a pretty clear picture of Bradberry’s performance. Last year, among 68 cornerbacks targeted at least three times per game, Bradberry had a defensive passer rating of 51.6, 2nd-best in the NFL behind Rig Woolen of the Seahawks (48.7). Bradberry allowed completions on just 45.3 percent of targets – best in the NFL – and allowed just 4.4 yards per target – also best in the NFL. Pro Football Focus gave him an 80.0 coverage grade, which ranked 10th of 118 corners who played at least 200 coverage snaps. Let’s compare all those numbers to this year so far: Defensive passer rating has gone from 2nd-best at 51.6 to 62nd -best at 117.6 out of 71 corners targeted three times per game. Completion percentage has increased from 45.3 to 57.4, yards per target skyrocketed from 4.4 to 6.7. And PFF’s season coverage grade has plunged from 80.0 to 53.9. So he’s gone from 10th out of 118 corners to 101st out of 114 corners. Over the last three weeks, things have gone from bad to worse as opposing quarterbacks have really gone after Bradberry. After allowing a passer rating over 100 in only three of his first 25 games with the Eagles, he’s allowed three straight over 110 – 138.0 vs. the Dolphins, 111.1 at Washington, 129.2 vs. the Cowboys. He’s allowed four TDs in those three games after allowing just two all last year. And after picking off three passes last year, he doesn’t have any interceptions this year. He just doesn’t look like the same guy. Why is all this happening? Bradberry did turn 30 in August, and that does seem to be a magic number for a lot of corners. And obviously the Eagles have faced better quarterbacks this year than last. And he’s also shuttled between outside corner and the slot, which can’t be easy for an eight-year veteran. And then the entire secondary has been unsettled all year because of injuries, and that has to make things tougher for everyone. But however you add it up, Bradberry’s play has been shaky at best. With Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Brock Purdy and then Dak Prescott again looming after the bye, Bradberry desperately needs a bounce-back second half.
2. Meanwhile, Darius Slay, who I was a lot more concerned about, has been OK. Not fantastic but OK. And he’s drawn the opposing team’s top wide receiver more often than Bradberry. But his numbers are also down from last year – 83.9 to 87.4 passer rating, 58.2 to 67.2 percent completion percentage, 6.7 yards per target to 7.7. All are middle of the pack. The Eagles have some promising young corners and 25-year-old Isaiah Rodgers should be eligible to play next year, but this year the Eagles are only going to go as far as Bradberry and Slay take them and right now that’s not a particularly comforting thought.
3. JALEN HURTS STAT OF THE DAY: Jalen Hurts has a 11-1 record as a starter when he rushes for 30 or fewer yards.
4. Yeah, it was a disappointing second season for Nakobe Dean. Big-time disappointing. He suffered two major injuries, lost reps to Nicholas Morrow when he wasn’t hurt and had just half a sack and two tackles for loss to show for 182 defensive snaps over parts of five games before this Lisfranc foot sprain. I don’t know what the future holds for Dean, but I would remind everyone he’s only 22 years old and there haven’t been a ton of Eagles 22 or younger drafted in the third round or later who’ve made a significant impact. Trott in 1998, Avonte Maddox in 2018, but who else? Al Nelson in 1965, Ben Hawkins in 1966, Randy Logan in 1973? Like everyone else, I found Dean’s play disappointing. But one thing I learned a long, long time ago is never give up on a 22-year-old kid. Dean has the tools and puts the work in. He’ll have other opportunities.
5. With four yards against the Chiefs, A.J. Brown will reach 5,500 career yards in his 70thgame and will (likely) become the 9th-fastest in NFL history to 5,500 yards. The eight fastest: Odell Beckham Jr. (54), Julio Jones (59), Michael Thomas (63), Jerry Rice (65), Randy Moss (66), A.J. Green (67), Torry Holt (69) and Anquan Boldin (68). Brown could actually become 10th-fastest if Justin Jefferson plays Sunday and has 104 yards. Jefferson has 5,396 yards in just 55 career games.
