EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants released cornerback James Bradberry on Monday after failing to find a trade partner.
The move was more about money for the Giants, who needed to clear cap space. Bradberry, 28, was set to make $13.4 million this season. He would have cost $21.9 million against the cap.
Bradberry had $2 million of his $13.4 million base salary guaranteed at the start of the league year. The Giants still have to eat almost $10 million in dead money, but they also get a cap savings of $12.1 million.
It didn’t come without the Giants losing one of their best players. Bradberry was the team’s top cornerback last season and made the Pro Bowl in his first year with the Giants in 2020, when he had a career-best 79.8 grade, via Pro Football Focus. He’s been graded in the 60s every other year of his career.
The veteran cornerback had a career-high four interceptions and recovered a pair of fumbles this past season.
Bradberry spent the first four years of his career with the Carolina Panthers. The Giants signed him as a free agent in the 2020 offseason to a deal worth $43.5 million over three years. He’s entering the final year of that contract, which could make him a one-year rental of sorts.
The Samford product has played in 92 career games (91 starts) for the Giants and Panthers.