James Bradberry Eagles’ ‘Lottery Winner’; Who's Next?
James Bradberry was the lottery winner from a year ago.
The Philadelphia Eagles cornerback was the only player who signed a one-year, free-agent deal heading into last season and earned a second contract with the team this offseason.
Technically, running back Boston Scott falls into that category, but Scott wasn’t an ‘outsider.’ He was returning to the same team that had employed him for five previous years.
One-year wonders such as linebacker Kyzir White, receiver Zach Pascal, and defensive tackles Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh couldn’t cash in and aren’t coming back, either – unless the Eagles feel the need to add the defensive tackles later in the fall.
Safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is in another category, acquired in a trade with one year on his deal. He wasn’t brought back, either.
Bradberry was, signing a three-year deal early in free agency.
The Eagles then went on a one-year signing spree, adding running back Rashaad Penny, cornerback Greedy Williams, safeties Terrell Edmunds and Justin Evans, linebacker Nicholas Morrow, defensive tackle Kentavius Street, receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, and tight end Dan Arnold.
Even Scott joined the party, signing yet another one-year deal to be in Philly. Add D’Andre Swift, too, who, like CGJ was traded here in the final year of his rookie deal.
Of the 10 who were brought in, including Scott and Swift, who has the best chance at sticking around long-term like Bradberry did?
FAVORITES TO RETURN
RB D’Andre Swift - The running back will prove to be an integral part of the offense and, even though the Eagles don’t invest long-term in the position, Swift could break that trend with a season of, say, 40 catches for 250 yards, and two touchdowns with another 825 rushing and five touchdowns.
WR Olamide Zaccheaus - Like Swift, he played his high school ball in Philadelphia at St. Joseph’s Prep. His numbers may not be eye-popping by season’s end, because the traffic probably won’t be great, but Quez Watkins is in the final year of his rookie deal, so maybe Philly tries to keep OZ at a hometown discount price and let Watkins walk.
MAYBE
LB Nicholas Morrow – Another position the Eagles don’t tend to invest in, but sooner or later they should try to find continuity here. The former Chicago Bears under-the-radar tackler might put himself in the conversation to stay put if he puts up more than 100 tackles, something he did last year for the first time in his career while making all 17 starts.
Set to turn 28 this summer, age could be a negative, though maybe it could work out in his favor, in that the market may not be too great for an ‘older’ linebacker. The Eagles may be able to keep him around for another two seasons if he is productive playing next to Nakobe Dean.
RB Boston Scott – Why not? The Eagles love him, and he loves being here. The veteran, however, is in jeopardy of making the final roster and his chances could hinge on the preseason performance of Trey Sermon.
TE Dan Arnold – If he makes the roster and performs as he did in his first five seasons, the 28-year-old could be a valuable commodity behind Dallas Goedert.
S Terrell Edmunds – The safety group could use a veteran for the next couple of years, with Reed Blankenship entering his second season and Sydney Brown a rookie, and he will likely prove to be more valuable than Evans. Safety salaries have risen astronomically so a good year from Edmund could price him out of the Eagles’ budget.
CB Greedy Williams – Still just 25, the 6-2 Williams will serve as a depth piece behind 30-something’s Darius Slay and Bradberry this season. If he can stay healthy, he could be part of the team’s future, perhaps starting opposite rookie Kelee Ringo in 2024.
PROBABLY NOT
RB Rashaad Penny – A healthy season will price him out of the Eagles' running back budget. Another injury-riddled year and why would you want him back?
S Justin Evans – Sort of an underrated player at this point. Probably needs a strong preseason to even make the roster.
DT Kentavius Street – The way the Eagles have fortified their defensive front in recent seasons, drafting Jalen Carter and Moro Ojomo this past spring, and adding Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, and Marlon Tuipulotu in recent drafts makes Street a long shot.
Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.
Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.
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