In a season unlike any other, the New York Giants have again been able to show consistency from seasons prior. After losing on a last-second field goal to their division rival Cowboys, New York has found themselves at 0-5 for the second time in four seasons. The team held the 2nd overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. Fast forward to the present day, the Giants have secured their first win of the season and lost a heart-breaking game to the Eagles.
Before the season began there were multiple teams predicted to be tanking for the top pick—all in an effort to secure the fantastic quarterback prospect in Trevor Lawrence. Amazingly enough, not many predicted the Giants to be in the race for Lawrence, but here we are.
Despite having won judge a single game, it’s not nearly as disappointing as prior years. Under new head coach Joe Judge, the Giants are competitive and are playing with passion. That’s not something Big Blue fans were used to seeing under Pat Shurmur and Ben McAdoo.
Four of the six losses so far were within one possession and came down to the final minute in the fourth quarter. The team was competitive in their season opener against Pittsburgh as they hung on for as long as they could. However, in their game against San Francisco, the team returned to their past form and looked completely awful. Not a single positive note came out of that game against the 49ers, it was ugly. As Joe Judge’s young team continues to search for their identity as a football team, there have been a few bright spots so far this season.
Dallas receiver Amari Cooper was held to two catches for twenty-three yards. Unusual for a player with a hundred million dollar contract. What happened to Amari Cooper, you ask? James Bradberry.
New York gave Bradberry a three-year contract worth $43.5M in March. The Giants made him their biggest free-agent signing off the offseason and so far it has paid off in a big way. Bradberry has been playing at an elite level to big this season. He held Cooper to just one catch worth only eight yards. Bradberry also just missed an interception that would have been a walk-in touchdown later in the game.
Earlier in the season, Bradberry went up against one of the league’s best receivers in Allen Robinson. Bradberry held him to three catches for just thirty-three yards. He also ripped out pass out of Robinson’s hands and took it himself for an interception.
Through seven weeks, Pro Football Focus has Bradberry rated as one of the best corners in the league with an 80.5 rating. He trails Jaire Alexander (90.9) of the Green Bay Packers. He was also named to the PFF NFL All-Pro team for the first quarter of the season.
Bradberry currently leads the league in passes defended with 9. So far James Bradberry has looked like the best free-agent signing from the offseason across the league with certainly helps out Dave Gettleman. He is on pace for 29 passes defended, just two short of the single-season record held by Darrelle Revis. Bradberry will look to continue his fantastic season against a dominant Tampa team on Monday night next week.