Nov 3, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (8) in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
When the Eagles acquired C.J. Gardner-Johnson for the second time in three years, it seemed like his newest stint with the team would be longer than the first.
In 2022, the Eagles traded a fifth and sixth-round pick for the safety, who was on an expiring deal. Despite having six interceptions — tied for the most in the NFL — the Eagles didn't re-sign Gardner-Johnson, who penned a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions.
The two reunited the following offseason with Gardner-Johnson signing a three-year, $27 million contract. Once again, the relationship was short-lived. After helping the Eagles win the Super Bowl, Gardner-Johnson was traded to the Houston Texans with a sixth-round selection for offensive linemen Kenyon Green and a fifth-round pick.
For the first time this offseason, defensive Vic Fangio spoke to local reporters at OTA's and briefly discussed the trade.
"That was a salary cap thing," Fangio said. "Howie made that decision and I was fine with it."
Fangio's thoughts are in lockstep with general manager Howie Roseman's comments in April about the move.
"Every dollar that you spend is a dollar less that you can spend on some of the younger players that maybe you want to retain," Roseman told NBC Sports Philadelphia's Dave Zangaro at the NFL Owners Meetings in April. "Getting out in front of it was important to us. And again, hard decisions. Not asking anyone to agree with them, but that's part of our job,"
The trade on March 11 was somewhat surprising, but in the big picture it makes sense. In the coming years, the Eagles are going to have to hand out big extensions — like Roseman mentioned — to young players like Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and others, who are still on rookie deals. When a roster is as talented as the Eagles, there are going to be tough decisions.
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Even though Gardner-Johnson had two years left on his deal, Roseman loves to manipulate the cap and getting rid of the safety was something he deemed necessary.
With Garnder-Johnson gone, the Eagles can go a number of ways in the secondary. Reed Blankenship is a shoo-in at the first safety spot after starting 30 games over the past two seasons. DeJean played some safety at Iowa and his name has been thrown out there as a possible replacement. Andrew Mukuba — the second round draft pick from Texas — is another candidate, while Sydney Brown and Tristin McCollum are other viable safeties on the roster.
DeJean's versatility stands out within the group. He is also a candidate to replace Darius Slay, who is now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, at outside corner. DeJean spent most of last season playing nickel corner. Fangio said he'd "like to keep him there," and in the Eagles' base package "find a spot for him at corner or safety."
A lot of it depends on how the rest of the guys develop and where we need them most," Fangio said Tuesday. "So it will be determined by what's best for (DeJean) and what's best for the team. And what's best for the team will probably win out in that decision, but he's capable of playing corner and safety."
During 11-v-11 drills at practice Tuesday, Brown started alongside Blankenship, SportsRadio 94WIP's Eliot Shor-Parks reported. Brown wasn't healthy until October last season after recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in January 2024.
Outside of playing in the Eagles' meaningless Week 18 game vs. the Giants, Brown had limited defensive snaps. Fangio could ask him to step into a bigger role this season.
"It's a new system from what (Brown) had in 2023. So yes, he sat in on meetings, but that only goes so far," Fangio said. "You got to get out there and experience and build on it. And he lost that last year, so he's going through that process now, and he's doing fine."
Brown started six games before getting injured in 2023 and has the experience edge over the rookie Mukuba. Fangio won't have to make a decision for a while, and hasn't indicated he will anytime soon.
"It's a competition," Fangio said. "It's going to take a Training Camp, a few preseason games to sort out, and Tristan's in that too."
