C.J. Gardner-Johnson Agrees To One-Year Lions Deal

C.J. Gardner-Johnson with the Philadelphia Eagles in October 2022.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson with the Philadelphia Eagles in October 2022. Photo by Eric Canha/CSM/Shutterstock (13613000bh)

Free-agent safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson has agreed to a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions, sources revealed to ESPN on Sunday night. His deal is expected to be in the region of up to $8 million.

Before Gardner-Johnson was approached by the Lions, the Philadelphia Eagles reportedly offered him a multi-year deal at the beginning of free agency in an effort to keep him on the team. He is believed to have rejected the offer on the basis that he believed his market value to be higher.

Gardner-Johnson joined the Eagles in late August after playing for the New Orleans Saints for four seasons. Selected by the Saints in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, Gardner Johnson made 11 interceptions and 20 tackles while defending 36 passes during his time in New Orleans.

The 25-year-old also proved to be an effective player for the Eagles, despite abandoning his regular role as a cornerback to become the Eagles’ safety. He thrived in his new position, tieing for the most interceptions (6) during the NFL regular season despite missing five games with a lacerated kidney.

Gunner's favorite movies are Pulp Fiction, Iron Man (just the first one), and every James Bond film ever made. He's learning TV and cinema and hoping to always enjoy movies as he does now.