We’re continuing our countdown tot he New Orleans Saints’ season opener by highlighting Millard Bradford, the rookie safety from TCU and the current owner of the No. 38 jersey. With 38 days left until kickoff with the Carolina Panthers, that makes Bradford our Saints Player of the Day:
- Name (Age): Millard Bradford (24)
- Position: Safety
- Height, weight: 5-foot-10, 191 pounds
- Relative Athletic Score: 7.69
- 2024 salary cap hit: $798,333
- College: TCU
- Drafted: Undrafted in 2024 (New Orleans Saints)
- NFL experience: Rookie
Bradford signed a standard three-year undrafted free agent contract with the Saint that included $60,000 in guarantees, which is nothing to overlook even if it isn’t on the higher end of the scale for rookies. That suggests they believed he could at least compete for a spot on their practice squad. And the early returns justified that — Millard had several interceptions at rookie minicamp and OTAs this spring, picking off Spencer Rattler twice in one afternoon of work.
He just needs to keep making plays. The more Bradford can do not just defensively but on special teams, the stronger his case becomes. He needs to prove to the Saints that they don’t need to splurge on a free agent safety like Justin Simmons. But with guys well ahead of him on the depth chart like Tyrann Mathieu, J.T. Gray, Johnathan Abram and Jordan Howden, there’s something of a ceiling to how high Bradford could climb. He started his summer strong. He just needs to keep it up now that padded practices have started and with preseason games coming up fast.
