James Bradberry’s potential next NFL stop if Giants cut him

The giants can’t keep James Bradberry on the books with a 2022 salary cap of $21.8 million. They may have to trade away their best cornerback to get cap relief. Here’s a look at NFL outposts where it makes sense for Bradberry to land next:

robber

Patrick Graham is the new defensive coordinator in Las Vegas and he knows the value Bradberry brings to a secondary from his two-year stint with the Giants. Trayvon Mullen has had a season full of injuries (five games played) and some help is needed in the defensive backfield. The Raiders are about $40 million below the ceiling.

Charger

With $57.5 million in cap space — the second-highest total in the league — the Chargers are considered big spender. Chris Harris will be a free agent and Asante Samuel Jr., a 2021 second-round pick, could use an experienced corner to lean on and that could be Bradberry.

ravens

The usually stingy defense in Baltimore didn’t deliver the usual level. Trading Bradberry would allow the Ravens to part ways with Marcus Peters and inject some new blood into the back end of the defense. Also, veteran Jimmy Smith is about to hit the open market.

Bengal

Despite a great run to the Super Bowl, Cincinnati’s defense conceded the seventh-most passing yards in the NFL last season. Three of the top corners – Eli Apple, Vernon Hargreaves III and Tre Flowers – are all going to the open market. Bradberry would be a good fit for a team that already has many plays on the list.

nozzles

Robert Saleh couldn’t have been satisfied with a defense that ranked 30th in passing yards in 2021 in his first year as head coach. The best returning corners are Bryce Hall and Brandin Echols. Need more reasons why Bradberry’s move from blue to green is anything but far-fetched? That the Jets have $48 million in salary headroom doesn’t hurt.

patriots

Add a starter for a year, give up a mid-round draft pick, don’t re-sign them the next year, and get a mid-round draft pick as compensation? That’s the Patriots way, right? JC Jackson was emerging as a corner of stardom in New England — his eight interceptions in 2021 were just Trevon Diggs’ 11 — but Jackson will be an unrestricted free agent and his price tag will be high. Maybe let him go and buy Bradberry for a season?