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Giants signing James Bradberry in NFL free agency splash

This was not a want, it was a need. The Giants could not go into the 2020 season without an experienced starting cornerback to lead the way for all the youngsters at the position. They struck quickly Monday on the first day of free-agent negotiations, agreeing to terms with James Bradberry, one of the best …

This was not a want, it was a need.

The Giants could not go into the 2020 season without an experienced starting cornerback to lead the way for all the youngsters at the position. They struck quickly Monday on the first day of free-agent negotiations, agreeing to terms with James Bradberry, one of the best corners on the open market.

Players in their prime at this position do not come cheaply and Bradberry certainly did not with a three-year deal worth $45 million, with $32 million in guaranteed money, according to various reports.

This is a player general manager Dave Gettleman knows exceedingly well, as he took Bradberry in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Samford when Gettleman was running the Panthers. It turned out to be an excellent selection. Bradberry started 13, 16, 16 and 15 games in his four years in Carolina, establishing himself as a solid cover corner and, at 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds, big enough to handle the physical demands of the demanding position.

Bradberry, 26, will anchor a cornerback group that is exceedingly young. DeAndre Baker and Corey Ballentine are coming off their rookie years and Sam Beal is coming off his first NFL season after spending his rookie year on injured reserve. The most experienced returning cornerback is Grant Haley, who is 24.

The Giants tried to have Janoris Jenkins lead the group last season, and while Jenkins tried to mentor the youngsters he was too much of an individualist to be a true leader. Bradberry will start, most likely alongside Baker, a player the Giants traded up into the first round to get in the 2019 draft. Baker endured some dreadful growing pains early in his first season but improved down the stretch once he took a more professional approach to the game.

Bradberry was the Panthers No. 1 cornerback ever since Gettleman rescinded the franchise tag on Josh Norman. According to Pro Football Focus, Bradberry last season shadowed NFC South receivers Mike Evans (Buccaneers), Julio Jones (Falcons) and Michael Thomas (Saints) in six games and allowed only one touchdown reception.

Bradberry, though, was not highly regarded by Pro Football Focus analytics, grading as the 68th cornerback in the league last season. Former Cowboy Byron Jones, considered the cream of the cornerback free-agent crop, is headed to Miami, according to multiple reports, to play for the Dolphins. The Giants had interest in Jones as well. Bradberry, who has eight career interceptions, has never been to a Pro Bowl and yet he commanded a contract that averages $15 million per year, proving once again the early stages of free agency is often about paying great money to good players.

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