5th Round
James Bradberry – CB/S – Samford
Strengths: Ideal size and physique for the position. Long arms that he effectively uses to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage. Good balance allows him to continue to jam up the receiver after initial shot. Decent speed, but better acceleration to get moving quickly if he’s beaten. Looks to make a play on the ball at all times. Very sound as a tackler.
Weaknesses: Lacks short area quickness and plays with tight hips which hurts him in off coverage. Is also too reactionary when he’s not playing tight on the receiver, which results in him being too late to make a play. Needs to get more aggressive when he’s playing in the open field. Excelled against FCS players, but looked overwhelmed against top FBS WRs.
The Fit: A lot of teams are going to pass on Bradberry because he is a very nuanced type of defensive back. He is an ideal fit in a press coverage defense, but struggles when he has a lot of open space to cover. The Chiefs can use him in their depth rotation, where help is much needed, and as a stop gap when injuries come up. He should also fit in well on special teams.
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