James Bradberry had one of the most impactful seasons for the New York Giants. He came in at the cornerback spot and immediately revitalized it after Janoris Jenkins departed in 2019. He was also recognized as one of the best players the Giants had this season. He managed to make the Pro Bowl while others were snubbed, but according to one source, Bradberry is actually an unsung hero.
An NFL.com article listing an unsung player for every team in the NFC picked Bradberry for the Giants.
The first of two NFC East cornerbacks on this list is Bradberry, who finished as the 13th-best wide corner in targeted EPA at -6.1. Bradberry also posted a targeted completion percentage allowed below expectation of -5.1, and tied for second in the entire league in passes defensed with 18. Only stellar Dolphins corner Xavien Howard had more than Bradberry, who also added three interceptions to his ledger in 2020 and finished with a ballhawk rate north of 21 percent. That three-year, $43.5 million deal the Giants signed Bradberry to in 2020 looks like a pretty good idea right about now.
This one is a bit of a head scratcher because while Bradberry does deserve the praise, he’s been getting it from plenty of sources this season. In fact, Bradberry has been one of the main bright spots of the defense that has made a significant impact on his position group. Just about everyone would rate the Giants secondary better as a whole because of his individual presence.
For some of the actual unsung Giants, such as 2020’s Mr. Irrelevant Tae Crowder, there’s some reason to be salty at not being listed here.
But it’s not surprising Bradberry is getting the attention. He was one of the biggest impact players on defense for the Giants last year, after all.