sport news NFL free agency: Ex-Eagles safety CJ Gardner-Johnson joins Lions, agreeing to ... trends now
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The Detroit Lions' spending spree continued Sunday with an agreement to add free-agent safety CJ Gardner-Johnson on a one-year deal worth as much as $8 million.
ESPN was the first to report the deal, which includes $6.5 million in guarantees. Gardner-Johnson's agency, Universal Sports Management, has since confirmed the agreement.
Gardner-Johnson was a revelation at safety for the NFC champions in 2022. The converted cornerback arrived in a trade from the New Orleans Saints in late August before tying for the league lead in interceptions, despite playing only 12 games due to a kidney lacerations. The 25-year-old also became the first Philadelphia player since the 1970 merger to intercept a pass in five consecutive games, according to ESPN.
With Gardner-Johnson in the defensive backfield, the Eagles yielded a league-low 180 yards per game in 2022.
While the Eagles couldn't keep Gardner-Johnson, the team did re-sign safety James Bradberry on a three-year, $38 million deal, and extended cornerback Darius Slay
