James Bradberry was one of the top defensive players on the free agent market this year. The former Carolina Panthers cornerback agreed to a three-year deal worth $43.55 million, with $31.98 million guaranteed with the New York Giants.
On Monday’s edition of the nationally syndicated Jim Rome Show, Bradberry revealed he chose the Giants’ offer over the same basic contract from the Detroit Lions.
“I just feel like New York was the better fit for me,” Bradberry told Rome. “I knew Mr. Gettleman, so I know what type of organization he’s trying to build over there, and I knew some of the players that were there as well, and they had nothing but good things to say about the organization. So I feel like it was the right fit.”
Gettleman referred to there is Giants GM Dave Gettleman. That’s the same person who drafted Bradberry when Gettleman was running the Panthers. That swayed him towards New York.
When Rome asked if the recent negativity directed at coach Matt Patricia and the Lions played any role, Bradberry flatly ruled it out.
“Nah,” he said. “I feel like both organizations were great. I feel like both coaches were great coaches, I just feel like New York might have been a better feel for me. It’s a great city. It’s something new for me. I’m more of an introvert and I wanted to go to a big city just so I can explore a little bit more around the city.”
Of greater interest to Lions fans is that the Lions were willing to pay Bradberry over $14 million per season. That’s more than Darius Slay was due in 2020 but less than what Slay demanded before he was traded. It seems the Lions were specifically unwilling to pay Slay, who is three years older than Bradberry, rather than an unwillingness to devote that kind of capital to the cornerback position.
Detroit later signed Desmond Trufant for $20 million over two years to lure the free agent from the Atlanta Falcons.
The full clip from the Jim Rome Show:
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