The Detroit Lions and free agent safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson have agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract, according to multiple sources.
BREAKING: Lions to sign safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to one-year, $8M deal. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/OP5Bt1Uzth
— NFL (@NFL) March 20, 2023
A part of the Philadelphia Eagles squad that reached the Super Bowl last season, Gardner-Johnson tied the NFL lead with six interceptions despite only playing 12 games. He was the top defensive free agent available according to ESPN’s rankings and becomes yet another casualty for the reigning NFC champions, who have already lost Miles Sanders, T.J. Edwards, Kyzir White, Javon Hargrave, Marcus Epps, Isaac Seumalo and Gardner Minshew to free agency as well as their offensive and defensive coordinators.
The Lions, on the other hand, have been increasingly active during the free agency period. They signed running back David Montgomery away from division rival Chicago and bolstered their secondary even more by signing cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley. They had one of their best seasons in recent memory last year, finishing 9-8 and a tiebreaker away from the last Wild Card spot.
#Lions offseason so far:
– Signed S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
– Signed RB David Montgomery
– Signed CB Cameron Sutton
– Signed CB Emmanuel Moseley
– Signed G Graham Glasgow
– Own picks 6, 18, 48 and 55 in the Draft.
Detroit is loading up. pic.twitter.com/kDJQnZN0Kw
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 20, 2023
The Eagles acquired Gardner-Johnson during last year’s offseason in a trade with the Saints, sending a 2023 fifth-round pick and a 2024 sixth-rounder for the 25-year-old. They asked him to switch to safety from cornerback and he did so effectively, putting up career-highs in interceptions and tackles (67) on a defense that allowed the fewest passing yards per game in the NFL (179.8).
Reportedly, the Eagles made an effort to keep Gardner-Johnson, offering him a multi-year deal for more money than he accepted with the Lions. He felt he could get more than the Eagles offered and tested free agency, but he did not get the offers he expected. Philly moved on, re-signing James Bradberry and Darius Slay, so Gardner-Johnson was forced to take the Lions deal. However, there is no bad blood between him and the Eagles.
“The organization treated me like family, but you’ve got to do what’s best for your family. That’s all it is,” Gardner-Johnson said during his introductory press conference on Monday.
I’m told Eagles made CJ Gardner Johnson competitive offer at start of free agency. He did not accept
I’m told he thought his offers would be bigger out there. Eagles went about signing other key players: James Bradberry. Redo Darius Slay. Now CJ has to take 1 year deal pic.twitter.com/NlvZksIvEd
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) March 20, 2023
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