The Philadelphia Eagles finally found a safety they could lock down for the long-term future. And it was a player they were tied to from the very beginning.
Philadelphia agreed to terms on a three-year, $33 million free agent deal with safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson Tuesday evening. Gardner-Johnson was a starter on Philly’s 2022 Super Bowl team and was tied for the league lead in interceptions before hitting the open market and signing with the Detroit Lions.
Now, the safety is back with the team and in the system that made him a top player at the position.
What Gardner-Johnson Means to Eagles’ Defense
When Adam Schefter broke the news that Gardner-Johnson would be returning to Philadelphia, the consensus from fans and analysts was that the organization should never have let him leave in the first place.
The former New Orleans Saints DB was traded to the Eagles a week before the 2022 regular season and still managed to record six interceptions despite missing five games due to a myriad of injuries.
His swagger helped Philadelphia’s defense rank 10th in total yards allowed and 18th in points allowed while ranking best in passing yards allowed.
Flying home 🦅
— C.J. Gardner-Johnson (@CGJXXIII) March 12, 2024
After he left, Philadelphia’s defense struggled to find an identity and fell to a bottom unit in just one season, which resulted in the firing of first-year playcaller Sean Desai. While the Eagles tried to keep Gardner-Johnson in Philly following Super Bowl LVII, the slot corner turned safety signed a one-year, $6 million deal with Detroit.
Now, Gardner-Johnson is just happy to be back in an environment that allowed him to be a top player at the position.
Are the Eagles Done in Free Agency?
Philadelphia entered Tuesday with over $30 million in cap space following Day 1 signings to pass rushing dynamo Bryce Huff and running back Saquon Barkley. The Gardner-Johnson deal can earn up to $33 million, which should allow the organization to have plenty of flexibility to add to their secondary even more — or a linebacker room that just has Nakobe Dean and the recently signed Zack Baun.
According to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, linebacker might be the next position that the team targets.
#Eagles are still in the market/ on the hunt for a LB, one way or another, per league sources.🕵️🔍
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 12, 2024
The safety market is still plenty stacked with talent like veterans Justin Simmons, Quandre Diggs, and Eddie Jackson.
Few players on the open market will be able to come through with the kind of edge and tenacity with which Gardner-Johnson plays. His experience as a slot corner should also provide enough position flexibility for the Eagles to be more creative in how they address their defense that finished as the second-worst passing unit in the league.
KEEP READING: NFL Free Agency Day 2 Winners
Whether it’s with a free agent signing or potential trade, the Eagles are always a team that is never truly done with improving their roster.
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