The Eagles have secured C.J. Gardner-Johnson with a three-year contract worth $33 million.
The Philadelphia Eagles have inked a three-year deal with defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, potentially worth up to $33 million. His agents, Kevin Conner and Robert Brown of Universal Sports, confirmed the agreement to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday.
This marks a return to Philadelphia for Gardner-Johnson, who previously spent the 2022 season with the Eagles. Despite missing five games due to a lacerated kidney, he managed to tie for the NFL lead in interceptions that season, securing six interceptions. Remarkably, he became the sole Eagles player since the 1970 merger to achieve interceptions in five consecutive games.
Following his free agency, Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Lions last offseason, aiming to bolster their secondary. However, his tenure with the Lions was cut short after just three games due to a torn pectoral muscle sustained in Week 2. Despite the limited appearances, Gardner-Johnson showcased his productivity, tallying 17 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 1 interception during the regular season. Additionally, he intercepted another pass in the divisional round playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
During his time in Detroit, Gardner-Johnson made efforts to instill a change in the defensive culture, encouraging Lions fans to wear blue ski masks during games, sparking early enthusiasm.
Originally drafted in the fourth round in 2019, Gardner-Johnson spent his first three NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints before being traded to the Eagles ahead of the 2022 season. With the Eagles, he made a significant impact, once again tying for the NFL lead in interceptions despite his injury-shortened campaign. In total, Gardner-Johnson has amassed 12 interceptions, 39 passes defended, 245 tackles, and 4 sacks over five seasons in the NFL.
