C.J. Gardner-Johnson

Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is leaving the Eagles to join the Lions, according to reports.

1 pick in 2023 NFL Draft - Bears lead list of top five teams winning NFL offseason so far2023 NFL mock draft: Shakeup at the top; how do free agents affect choices?C.J. - Sean Payton emphasizes physicality to rebuild Broncos quickly2023 NFL Draft WR Rankings: Quentin Johnston leads the prospects2023 NFL Draft prospect rankings: 64 best available players - 2023 NFL free-agency tracker: Signings, live updates, best players available2023 NFL Draft order: Complete list of every pick for all seven roundsNFL Free Agency Grades: Every major signing so far for each team NFL trending New Orleans selected Gardner-Johnson in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of

The Eagles will have to replace both safeties from the 2022 season after news that C.J. Gardner-Johnson is signing with the Lions.

In addition to the interceptions, Gardner-Johnson also had 67 tackles, a sack and 5 tackles for loss. The Saints initially drafted Gardner-Johnson in the fourth round out of Florida back in 2019 and he developed into a very good nickel corner. (In general, the safety market has been weak this offseason.) So Gardner-Johnson is now essentially signing a one-year prove-it deal with the Lions and the Eagles will have to find their answers at safety elsewhere. While the Eagles are losing Gardner-Johnson, they will bring back both cornerbacks from the 2022 team. This Gardner-Johnson news comes after we found out earlier in free agency that fellow starting safety Marcus Epps signed a two-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Eagles will now have to replace both starting safeties from their Super Bowl roster after free agent C.J.

The Detroit Lions have landed the best remaining free agent on the board, agreeing to a deal with Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

[2023 NFL free agency process](https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/lists/eagles-news-cj-gardner-johnson-nfl-free-agency-twitter-message/), hoping for a vast market as one of the top young safeties in the NFL. [Gardner-Johnson was traded to the Eagles](https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/2022/08/30/philadelphia-eagles-saints-chauncey-gardner-jonson-trade-nfl-53-man-roster-cuts/) during the 2022 preseason and promptly helped elevate the defense to one of the NFL’s top units. Gardner-Johnson is an Eagles no more, agreeing to a deal with the Detroit Lions.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson agreed to a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions on Sunday, his agent told the NFL Network. He spent 2022 with the Philadelphia Eagles.

[CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP](https://foxnews.onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products) Edwards in the offseason. [New Orleans](https://www.foxnews.com/category/sports/nfl/new-orleans-saints) before taking the reins in Detroit. [the Eagles](https://www.foxnews.com/category/sports/nfl/philadelphia-eagles), he tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions and had 67 combined tackles. He added eight passes defended. In his lone season with

The Eagles will have to replace both safeties from the 2022 season after news that C.J. Gardner-Johnson is signing with the Lions. By Dave Zangaro.

The Saints initially drafted Gardner-Johnson in the fourth round out of Florida back in 2019 and he developed into a very good nickel corner. In addition to the interceptions, Gardner-Johnson also had 67 tackles, a sack and 5 tackles for loss. This Gardner-Johnson news comes after we found out earlier in free agency that fellow starting safety Marcus Epps signed a two-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. It appears that Gardner-Johnson and his agent simply misjudged the market. The Eagles made Gardner-Johnson a multi-year offer early in free agency but he and his camp turned it down. The Eagles will now have to replace both starting safeties from their Super Bowl roster after free agent C.J.

This Gardner-Johnson news comes after we found out earlier in free agency that fellow starting safety Marcus Epps signed a two-year deal with the Las Vegas ...

[Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXenWaHGZz4Ey4BObUUIyZQ) [Art19](https://art19.com/shows/eagle-eye-philadelphia-eagles) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/7efTly7UOHBSf8PKhqUmYC) The Saints initially drafted Gardner-Johnson in the fourth round out of Florida back in 2019 and he developed into a very good nickel corner. [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1376641140?mt=2) In addition to the interceptions, Gardner-Johnson also had 67 tackles, a sack and 5 tackles for loss.

The safety free agent has come to an agreement with the Detroit Lions, leaving the Eagles thin in that position.

The Eagles went into their last training camp with questionable options at safety and may have to do so again. The Eagles will need to take major strides to fill out the middle of their defense with defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, linebackers T.J. However, Gardner-Johnson was seeking to be paid an annual average in salary just shy of Bates and the Eagles’ initial offer wasn’t there. He was a slot cornerback for New Orleans during the first three years of his career, but switched to safety with the Eagles hoping to improve his market value after the Saints and him couldn’t agree on a contract extension. This year’s safety market has been volatile, with most of the top free agents at the position signing deals lower than expected. While Gardner-Johnson surveyed the market, the Eagles re-signed All-Pro cornerback James Bradberry to a three-year, $38 million contract and signed veteran corner Darius Slay to a two-year extension as well.

We're looking at takeaways and observations as C.J. Gardner-Johnson chose a one-year, $8 million deal from the Detroit Lions.

Blankenship had 20 tackles, one interception, and two passes defended during the 2022 season. Still, his play while Gardner-Johnson was out with a lacerated kidney likely played the most significant role in Howie Roseman allowing the safety to walk. Statistics tell just part of the story, and the truth is Gardner-Johnson was the NFL’s co-leader in interceptions, and he was also a player who missed his share of tackles and graded out poorly at his position per PFF. [venting](https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/16/philadelphia-eagles-news-cj-gardner-johnson-nfl-free-agency-disrespect/) on social media, [Gardner-Johnson accepted a prove-it deal](https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/19/eagles-news-lions-cj-gardner-johnson-contract-details-nfl-free-agency/) with Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions. [Epps landed $6 million a year ](https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/13/eagles-news-raiders-marcus-epps-nfl-free-agency/)r from Las Vegas, then we have to assume that Howie Roseman likely never came above four of five million per season. Gardner-Johnson is signing a one-year, $8 million deal](https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/19/eagles-news-cj-gardner-johnson-lions-nfl-free-agency/) with the Lions, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Sunday night.

Detroit added Gardner-Johnson to its defense on Sunday, when it became even more clear the Lions are gearing up for a playoff run.

Of course, [Jerry Jacobs](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/jerry-jacobs-b0kP6izhmg5XD71Y/) and [Jeff Okudah](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/jeff-okudah-K2uFo4JtlcnjRlqJ/) might have something to say about that, but it’s a good problem to have. [Lions](https://theathletic.com/nfl/team/lions/) have done in [NFL free agency](https://theathletic.com/tag/nfl-free-agency/). [Will Harris](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/will-harris-dm53ORTFpukUprnj/) the most recent to take a crack at it. Those moves have the Lions in a great spot, ahead of a season in which they expect to compete for the NFC North crown. The Lions might not be done in free agency, and they’ll also have to create room for their draft class. Gardner-Johnson [agreed to a one-year deal](https://theathletic.com/4292351/2023/03/19/cj-gardner-johnson-free-agency-signing-2023-lions/) worth up to $8 million. [Eagles](https://theathletic.com/nfl/team/eagles/) safety C.J. [Emmanuel Moseley](https://theathletic.com/nfl/player/emmanuel-moseley-FRjKJjAtWbXpIMKB/) could join him. Cap update: The Lions had a little more than $18 million before Sunday’s news, according to Over the Cap. That’s where Gardner-Johnson earned the trust of Glenn, developing into a starting nickel on a Saints defense that allowed the fifth-fewest passing yards per game in 2020. After getting dealt to the NFC champion Eagles in September and going on to tie for the league lead in interceptions, with six, Gardner-Johnson hit free agency in search of a new team. The Lions suddenly have a versatile defense with an array of options.

The C.J. Gardner-Johnson news was a bummer for Eagles fans, but his agency took things to a whole new level on Sunday evening. By Adam Hermann.

And look: negotiations go on behind closed doors, so it's hard for fans to ever say with certainty whether one side did a bad job, got raked over the coals, fumbled a bag, etc. What is clear: Gardner-Johnson's representation misplayed the safety's hand and cost him a chance at running it back on a multi-year deal with a Super Bowl contender. That's just an abysmal decision, and likely won't have players lining up to sign with Universal Sports Management in the near future.

The Eagles made Gardner-Johnson a priority in free agency, as a source told CBS Sports the team was making a push to sign the safety. Philadelphia made a multi- ...

Gardner-Johnson was reunited with Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who was his defensive backs coach with the [New Orleans Saints](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/NO/new-orleans-saints/). [agreed to a contract extension](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/darius-slay-agrees-to-two-year-42-million-extension-with-eagles-per-report-back-like-i-never-left/). Gardner-Johnson was searching for a salary similar to the average annual value Bates received ($16.005 million). There was a multi-year offer from Philadelphia left on the table. [Javon Hargrave](/nfl/players/2007634/javon-hargrave/), [T.J. The Eagles never made an official announcement on Slay, which was a sign Slay and the Eagles were trying to work out a restructured contract to stay in Philadelphia. [one-year deal with the Detroit Lions worth up to $8 million](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-free-agency-lions-agree-to-one-year-deal-with-ex-eagles-safety-chauncey-gardner-johnson-per-report/). [Philadelphia Eagles](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/PHI/philadelphia-eagles/) made C.J. Essentially, it defended the contract its client signed. The first piece of the secondary was in place. Philadelphia made a multi-year offer to Gardner-Johnson, but he decided to test the market. Here were the safety contracts given out over the four days, none of which involved Gardner-Johnson.

Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown told fans not to be upset by Gardner-Johnson's decision: "It's a dangerous game that we play."

Gardner-Johnson comes to Detroit after spending the 2022 season with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he appeared in 12 games (12 starts) and had 67 tackles (61 ...

In 55-career games (43 starts), he has 224 tackles (179 solo), 36 pass defenses, 20 tackles for loss, 11 interceptions and 4.0 sacks. His six interceptions tied for the NFL lead. Gardner-Johnson.

We're considering ten potential options the Philadelphia Eagles could use to replace new Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

He had two tackles on defense and three on special teams. Chinn is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and the Carolina Panthers signed Vonn Bell to a three-year, $22.5 million deal that includes $13 million in guarantees. The Philadelphia native has been asked to take a pay cut by the Titans and is coming off a 2022 season in which he recorded 108 tackles and four interceptions. This past season, Mills started 10 of the first 11 games in New England before missing the remainder of the year with a groin injury. With the first wave of free agency complete and the Eagles looking to retool in the secondary, here are ten options to replace Gardner-Johnson at free safety. [Gardner-Johnson turned down a backloaded](https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/lists/takeaways-and-observations-from-c-j-gardner-johnsons-first-lions-press-conference/) 3-year, $24 million deal from the Eagles, prompting Howie Roseman to [re-sign James Bradberry](https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/lists/eagles-sign-james-bradberry-analysis-details-nfl-free-agency/) and [extend Darius Slay.](https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/lists/eagles-sign-darius-slay-analysis-details-nfl-free-agency/)