One way or another, the New York Giants need to clear some salary space to fit their 2022 draft class under the cap. Currently, Big Blue has about $2 million in cap space, but that is not including the signings of multiple players over the past few days. Realistically, they’re around even, but that isn’t nearly enough.
Trading Bradberry has been in the cards for quite some time, but general manager Joe Schoen is buying his time, waiting for the right opportunity to strike. On Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs traded All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, providing them with insane draft capital. Reports have indicated that the Chiefs could be looking for a cornerback with their new money and assets.
In the trade that sent Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins, the Chiefs brought in:
-2022 1st-round pick (No. 29)
-2nd-round pick (No. 50)
-4th-round pick
-4th and 6th-round picks in the 2023 draft
What can the New York Giants get from Bradberry in a trade?
The Giants realistically may be able to get a fourth-round pick for Bradberry, who had a down season in 2021, allowing 729 yards and eight touchdowns through the air. With Kansas City losing star safety Tyrann Mathieu, adding more defensive back help is essential to their off-season strategy. The cornerback market has thinned out tremendously in recent days, so KC’s best chance may be to prove for a proven player with another team taking on some of the guaranteed money.
Clearing Bradberry off the books would save the Giants $11.7 million this off-season, making his contract nearly irrelevant in 2023. That money would be just enough to sign the draft class and maybe land a few minimum-level players.
Schoen and new management have been extremely conservative with their approach, filling holes in the roster with plenty of former Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens players. The Giants are looking at their current situation as a long-term build, laying the foundation with a strong 2022 draft class. But first things first, they need the money to sign them, and it ultimately will come from James Bradberry’s contract.