Signs point to Lions losing C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency

The Lions may want to bring C.J. Gardner-Johnson back after an injury-truncated 2023 season, but the tea leaves suggest he’ll be gone.

As the first week of 2023 free agency ended, the Detroit Lions got what looked like an incredible steal when they agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal with C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Coming off tying for the league lead in interceptions with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, Gardner-Johnson was the kind of ball hawk the Detroit secondary needed.

But it did not come to fruition. Gardner-Johnson suffered a torn pectoral in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, and made a speedy recovery to play in the regular season finale and all three playoff games. Gardner-Johnson did have two interceptions when he did play, as a tease of what he could have done.

Simply put, the sample size of Gardner-Johnson’s play was just not enough all the way around. When he returned to action, the emergence of Ifeatu Melifonwu led to a three-man rotation at safety (including Kerby Joseph of course) he was not thrilled about.

Signs are pointing to Lions losing C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency

The Lions can re-sign Gardner-Johnson at any point before free agency starts. Pro Football Network pointed to how his versatility would be “a fit for more than half the league ” and that he’s just 26 years old. Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com has Gardner-Johnson at No. 19 on his ranking of free agents, using Tyrann Mathieu as a comp.

Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda got a little more specific in terms of a team who could be in on Gardner-Johnson.

“The Philadelphia Eagles will look to bring in a safety in the offseason, via free agency or the draft. People at the combine get the sense that there’s a real chance the Eagles bring back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who is scheduled to hit the free-agent market. Gardner-Johnson played for the Eagles in 2022 before signing a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions last year.”

Gardner-Johnson may have to settle for another one-year deal, coming off missing most of a season and with three straight seasons where he has missed noticeable time. Apart from that, the Lions can’t offer Gardner-Johnson a clear-cut starting role like a lot of other teams could. If he wants that starting opportunity in an effort to get a multi-year contract, a return to Detroit simply won’t be happening.