In this series I will be reviewing how the Carolina Panthers 2016 draft class performed during their first season in the NFL. The next player to be analyzed is James Bradberry, a cornerback drafted out of Samford University in the second round. Below is some basic information and his 2016 statistics:
| Category | Information | 2016 Statistics | |
| Name | James Bradberry | Total Tackles | 59 |
| College | Samford | Tackles for a loss | 3 |
| Age | 23 years old | Passes Defended | 10 |
| Height | 6-feet 1-inches | Interceptions | 2 |
| Weight | 210 pounds |
2016 Expectations and Season Review:
Fans and pundits alike were confused when the Carolina Panthers selected James Bradberry with the 62nd overall pick. Many saw it as a reach for a player at a position of need due to Josh Norman leaving after his franchise tag was rescinded. Following the draft, I wrote:
James Bradberry is an off-coverage corner who uses his length and athleticism to make plays. He has issues in press coverage with his balance and needs to work on his footwork, but overall Bradberry is an NFL corner. He has a great feel for the route trees of his opponents, glides in zone coverage and keeps his eyes on the ball. His coachability and intangibles will make his transition to the NFL smooth and painless. One of the main reasons he isn’t considered a second round prospect is the competition he played, but when he played against FBS schools he performed at a high level, notching an interception against Auburn and playing good defense against wide receiver Josh Doctson and TCU.
Bradberry fits well into the Panthers system because of their zone base and the fact that their system allows defensive backs to make plays on the ball. He also has the versatility to play safety in a pinch which lends to the notion that Gettleman is giving Sean McDermott the ability to use his full arsenal of plays by giving him the right personnel. Bradberry should be able to step in as the number two corner for Carolina, leaving Bene Benwikere as the number one and Brandon Boykin as the nickel, and can contribute early. Overall this pick will be viewed as a reach, and while it might be, the player fits well into the system and has the skills to be a difference maker on a defense filled with versatile, instinctual players.
Entering the 2016 season there was little hope that Bradberry would be able to replace Norman’s contributions; however, Bradberry proceeded to play lights out, earning Pro Football Focus’ best grade for rookie cornerbacks.
Courtesy: Pro Football Focus
The Good: James Bradberry uses his hands to control receivers at the line of scrimmage better than a rookie should. Even though he only had two interceptions on the year, Bradberry displayed great instincts and ball skills with some of the best pass breakups of the year. Whether it was knocking a receiver off of their route or mirroring their footwork Bradberry did a great job of adjusting to the receiver across from him. He played some of his best football in zone coverage because he was able to keep his eyes on and react to the quarterback.
The Bad: Bradberry’s biggest flaw in 2016 was his footwork, often times tripping over his own feet or letting his feet slip out from under him. He was also flagged a number of times for defensive holding/pass interference downfield and will need to learn to use his hands more intelligently in the future. While his overall tackling technique was good, he missed a number of tackles due to poor positioning. In the below play, his footwork is all wrong, and it allows Julio Jones to get separation. Playing against one of the top wideouts in the league is no short order, but Bradberry will be tasked with covering Jones twice this season, and must do better.
Last Thoughts and 2017 Expectations:
James Bradberry was the most impactful rookie and defensive back for the Panthers in 2016. His play was reminiscent of Josh Norman in 2014; that means Bradberry is in a good position to breakout in 2017. In order for Bradberry to step up his game in 2017, he will need to work on his footwork and overall positioning, but both are coachable and Bradberry has already shown a great dedication to his craft. Bradberry will continue to be the Panthers top cornerback and play an important role in the revival of the Panthers defense. Should Bradberry’s fractured wrist linger or another injury occur, the secondary will have a huge hole at the top.
Make sure to check out the previous 2016 class profile for Vernon Butler and check back throughout the offseason for the other 2016 profiles!
