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Carolina Panthers: James Bradberry facing pivotal contract year

By Jake Wexler

CHARLOTTE, NC - AUGUST 17: James Bradberry #24 of the Carolina Panthers talks with a referee between plays against the Miami Dolphins during the game at Bank of America Stadium on August 17, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - AUGUST 17: James Bradberry #24 of the Carolina Panthers talks with a referee between plays against the Miami Dolphins during the game at Bank of America Stadium on August 17, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Miami Dolphins v Indianapolis Colts
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 25: Xavien Howard #25 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates after intercepting a pass in the final minute of the first half against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

At What Price?

On May 9, the Miami Dolphins extended the contract of cornerback Xavien Howard. A five year deal worth $76.5M ($46M guaranteed) made him the highest paid cornerback in the NFL. Howard was picked No. 38 overall in the 2016 draft, 24 spots earlier than James Bradberry.

Let’s compare the two to get a better idea of what Bradberry’s potential extension could look like:

James Bradberry – 2018
1 interception
70 tackles
66.4 PFF Grade (#60 CB in the NFL)

Xavien Howard – 2018
7 interceptions
35 tackles
77.3 PFF Grade (#19 CB in the NFL)

Howard’s explosive break-out 2018 season tickled the Dolphins enough to make him the highest paid corner in the NFL. Bradberry hasn’t had the same type of statistical impact. There is a strong argument to be made for the differences in competition of which both players saw respectively here, but Bradberry’s contract numbers won’t justifiably live in the same stratosphere as Howard’s.

So where does that leave Bradberry in terms of fair compensation if the Panthers were to try to strike a deal before free agency hits? I figured that finding a player comparable in value with a recent contract extension would be a great bench mark to figure out what Bradberry could see.

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