The Philadelphia Eagles made C.J. Gardner-Johnson a priority heading into free agency. They wanted him back with the team, and he wanted to be back, but on a deal that would pay him a ton of money.
He came off a season in which he tied for the league lead in interceptions and he appeared to be on the rise as one of the best safeties in the NFL.
The star safety would end up signing a one-year, $8 million deal with the Detroit Lions.
So how did we get here and why couldn’t the Eagles pay that?
It turns out the Eagles made him a multi-year offer, but he was looking for more. The team decided to move on and sign Bradberry and extend Darius Slay. Bradberry ended up signing a three-year deal with the Eagles, taking less money to stay in Philadelphia.
Gardner-Johnson ultimately decided to sign a one-year prove-it deal after no better offers came to him.
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Whether the Eagles could match the deal or not was up in the air.
Gardner-Johnson now reunites with Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who was his defensive backs coach with the New Orleans Saints.
At the end of the day, the Eagles and Gardner-Johnson moved on. There was a multi-year offer from Philadelphia left on the table.
