In order to strengthen their defense, the Detroit Lions constantly put their best foot forward by recruiting the greatest defenders. With the recent addition of former Eagles great C.J. Gardner-Johnson, they will eventually be a formidable opponent when it comes to defense.
The Detroit Lions, one of many teams already in the run from the onset of the NFL’s free agency period, have acquired ex-Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery, ex-Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton, and ex-San Francisco 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley to their roster.
The Lions’ reign with C.J. Gardner-Johnson apparently started
The Eagles were reportedly working to bring Gardner back last week, albeit their disagreement prevented any action from being taken. The Eagles eventually extended Slay’s contract and signed Bradberry.
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McClane reported Sunday that the Eagles made a multi-year offer to Gardner-Johnson, but that he was ‘looking for more.’
Skinny on why C.J. Gardner-Johnson is no longer in Philly:
– #Eagles made multi-year offer early in FA.
– He was looking for more.
– They moved on, signed Bradberry, extended Slay.
– He/agent overvalued not realizing market/league viewed him as risk.
– Settled for prove-it deal.— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) March 20, 2023
This safety has now moved into a new destination. With CJ Gardner joining the Lions as the newest free agent and signing an $8 million, one-year contract, the Eagles will need to look elsewhere for safety solutions.
Yet it appears as a silly decision for some fans of this safety as at the start of free agency, the Eagles presented him with a deal that was greater in value than what he finally agreed to with the Lions.
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A glimpse at Gardner-Eagles Johnson’s career stats
The 25-year-old Gardner-Johnson had just one season with the Eagles after being selected in the fifth round. He started the first 11 games before suffering a lacerated kidney in Week 12. In just 12 regular season games with the Phillies, Gardner-Johnson made six interceptions. With 4 tackles in the Eagles’ 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, this safety contributed to the team’s journey to Super Bowl LVII.
But, Gardner was unable to replicate his previous performance. With Johnson in the defensive backfield, the Phillies averaged a league-low 180 yards per game in 2022, raising some questions about his impact on team success.
Nevertheless, it’s sure to be intriguing to observe how Johnson demonstrates his previous dominance on the field for the Lions.
