C.J. Gardner-Johnson reportedly leaving Detroit for reunion with Eagles
ALLEN PARK — C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s lone season with the Detroit Lions didn’t go as anyone expected. However, the electric defensive back landed the long-term deal he sought, agreeing to a three-year, $33 million deal to run it back with the Philadelphia Eagles, per NFL Network.
Gardner-Johnson tore his pectoral muscle in the team’s Week 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks. He played through the injury, then returned in time for the team’s season finale and three playoff games.
He notched an interception in the finale, then another in the divisional round, too. Now, Gardner-Johnson returns to the team where he led the league in picks in 2022. Landing this long-term deal didn’t seem likely after the injury, not to mention the shift to safety and eventual bump to a three-person rotation to end the season. But the Eagles know more than most about what they’re getting into with the talented defensive back and energetic presence.
“Yeah, think about what I’ve been going through,” Gardner-Johnson said after returning late in the year. “Had a rough offseason, lost the Super Bowl … so, you got to think about it. Ball got took away quick, so I had to really think about life and what I’m doing. That’s why I’m back, because of God, you know?”
Gardner-Johnson’s departure, paired with Tracy Walker’s, leaves Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu at the top of Detroit’s safety room.
Joseph has been one of the more boom-or-bust players of the last two years. His ball-hawking and aggressive ability at the back of the defense make him a third-year pro to watch. Melifonwu was one of the most important parts of the team’s late-season success. The converted cornerback made noise in coverage and was a thumping pressure creator whenever sent on blitzes.
That said, veteran safety depth for a third-year pro and someone with previous durability issues, such as Melifonwu, shouldn’t be out of the question. Those two should be the odds-on favorites to start on the back of Aaron Glenn’s defense in 2024. But the Lions love moving pieces and adding versatile players.
They also have safety Brandon Joseph on the roster, with breakout nickelback Brian Branch primed for a strong Year 2. Some top names left on the safety market include Quandre Diggs (Seahawks), Kamren Curl (Commanders), Julian Blackmon (Colts), Jordan Fuller (Rams), DeShon Elliott (Dolphins) and Justin Simmons (Broncos) as options to track.