The New York Giants are in the market for a new linebacker, and if they don’t land Isaiah Simmons in the draft, there are a few free-agent options that could fit the bit.
A new target might have emerged on Tuesday, as the Philadelphia Eagles cut Nigel Bradham to open up more cap space. Formerly a fourth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills, Bradham was hampered in 2019 with an ankle injury, recording 61 tackles and an interception over 12 games.
Bradham offers a quality linebacker in coverage, but his injury history is a concern. The Giants could bring him in on a team-friendly deal to act as a backup or potential starter depending on how he looks in training camp and pre-season.
The New York Giants should be all over Nigel Bradham:
If I were GM Dave Gettleman, I would be considering the defender heavily, as he offers plenty of value in the middle of the defense, even if they select Simmons in the draft. It will be necessary for the Clemson standout to have veteran experience around him as he adapts to the NFL level (theoretically).
Not only was Bradham a key piece on the Eagles’ defense since 2016, but his cutting with just semantics. They needed to clear cap-space and embark on a mini-rebuild. The Giants could easily benefit from this decision, as he would offer a quality cover-linebacker in the middle of the defense and would supplement any injuries that could arise.
Nigel is a solid tackler with the ability to play multiple positions in the middle of the defense. New head coach for the New York Giants, Joe Judge, made it known that he wants his team to be diverse and adaptable if he requires them to fill other roles. I believe Judge will be intrigued by Bradham’s quality of play and leader-mentality.