The Lions made a big splash at the end of the first week of free agency. Numerous reports indicate the Lions have signed free agent safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to a one-year contract worth $8 million.
It’s a below-market value signing by Gardner-Johnson, who was arguably the top remaining unsigned free agent. The versatile DB is an instant starter in Detroit and gets to play for familiar faces.
Gardner-Johnson spent his first three seasons with the New Orleans Saints before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles last summer. Lions head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn coached Gardner-Johnson in the first two years in New Orleans.
The familiarity helps ease some of the concerns about the versatile defensive back. His truculent personality has been an issue for Gardner-Johnson with both opponents and (sometimes) teammates. He’s an agitator on the field, bringing a vocal edge the Lions secondary hasn’t really had lately.
Gardner-Johnson played the slot/nickel role in New Orleans with Glenn as his position coach, and that’s his presumptive role in Detroit. He did play more deep coverage in a split safety look with the Eagles.
He’s a natural ballhawk. Gardner-Johnson picked off a league-leading six passes in just 12 games for the Eagles and broke up eight others. He’s very good at jumping routes and playing the ball in the air.
A kidney injury cost him five full games and parts of two others near the end of the season, though he did return in full for the Eagles’ postseason run. He also missed five games for the Saints in 2021, including a 4-game stint on injured reserve. He plays a full-throttle style that does leave him vulnerable, though the one-year contract mitigates a lot of the risk there.
Overall, it’s a great fit for a rising young Lions defensive core, one that also features free agent CBs Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley. Gardner-Johnson’s versatility, playmaking ability and big-game experience are a fantastic addition and value for the Lions.
