The Eagles secondary struggled last season, and as training camp continues to get underway, we learned that James Bradberry is taking his reps at safety instead of cornerback. He spoke to reporters following practice on Saturday and explained why he’s attempting to make the move and why it’s such a challenging change.

Bradberry said that the transition to safety has been going smooth so far, and it’s mainly just learning the communication and having to talk a lot more to get information to the linebackers and corners. He dismissed the notion that the Eagles were the ones who asked him to change position, claiming responsibility for that choice.

“No, honestly, it was my thought after the season. I went to them, we had a meeting, and I just wanted to try it out.”

When asked why, Bradberry was succinct in his reply, “Why not?”

Eagles’ DC Vic Fangio spoke to reporters earlier in camp, and mentioned that the transition from corner to safety is harder than most make it out to be, and it’s not something very many players can do and have success. Bradberry explained that outside corners aren’t really asked to talk a whole lot or learn many other positions, especially compared to safeties. Safeties need to know a lot more about what the inside guys are doing as far as blitzes, because the safety needs to roll to the post to replace whoever is blitzing. It’s learning all the information, being able to communicate, and also handle more tackling since that position is in the box a lot more.

He was asked again about his decision to move to safety, and why he went to coaches with the request.

“Last year, of course I didn’t have my best season, going into my ninth year, I know they signed Isaiah Rodgers, as well — of course, he wasn’t able to participate at the time when I requested that, but I knew eventually he was probably going to end up being on the team.

We had a lot of young guys in the room at corner anyways, I felt like it was a little lighter at safety. And, I can still play corner, it’s not that I’m not gonna play corner. Right now, my thought process was just try to be a valuable piece to the team, and I feel like picking up safety, learning new roles — and also last year at the end of the season I was playing a little bit of dime, so I was already playing inside a little bit.”

Bradberry went on to say that then they came up to the draft, and he figured the team would pick up some corners since he didn’t play well in 2023. He also noted that by moving over to safety, his reps can go to some of the younger guys who need them.

“If the time comes to where I’m still on the team and they want me to play corner, I’mma be ready.”

When asked if he’d rather be on a team where he can be a starter, or if he’d be okay being on a team as a depth player, Bradberry said that he tries to be adaptive.

“I’m on the team right now. So, as far as like while I’m on the team, I want to find a role on this team, and I feel if I’m a versatile player, then I’m gonna be a role — and, of course I want to start. Now where I’m gonna start, I don’t know, but I’m working right now at safety to see if I can learn that and play that and be a valuable asset to the team.”

Bradberry also said that he was initially recruited out of high school as a safety, and his bigger body allows him to move over into that position.

We’ll have to see as camp continues how Bradberry’s role develops, but he also reminded reporters on Saturday that he still has two years left on his contract, one year guaranteed, so he’s trying to avoid all the chatter about him landing elsewhere in 2024.