Eagles Send CJ Gardner Johnson To Texans in Surprise Trade
We knew the Eagles would lose players like Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, and Mekhi Becton. They were pending free agents and as we saw yesterday, Sweat and Williams got massive…
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 09: C.J. Gardner-Johnson #8 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after beating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 to win Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)We knew the Eagles would lose players like Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, and Mekhi Becton. They were pending free agents and as we saw yesterday, Sweat and Williams got massive contracts from other teams. But CJ Gardner Johnson was not a name fans expected to see leave. He still had 2 years under contract, and was a key part of the Super Bowl win.
Howie Roseman shocked everyone this morning though by trading him to the Texans. The Eagles will get back Texans OG Kenyon Green, and swap of picks with the Eagles getting a 2026 5th-round pick, and the Texans getting a 2026 6th-round pick. The deal was first reported by Adam Schefter and DJ Bien-aime from ESPN.
CJ Gardner Johnson Out Of Philly Once Again
The Eagles only just signed him a 3-year deal about a year ago today. This came after they let him walk in free agency to the Lions the year prior. It marks 4 straight off-seasons where he changed teams, twice by trade, and twice by free agency.
CJ Gardner Johnson had 6 interceptions in both seasons he played in Philly. Not to mention making multiple big plays in the run game in short-yardage situations. Many credited him with bringing a toughness back to the Eagles defense that they lacked in 2023. That could have also been the hiring of Vic Fangio, but it is undeniable that Gardner-Johnson brought a lot of energy to the field.
That cost him sometimes, like when he was tossed from the 2nd Commanders game. That said, the same game showed how much he brought to the defense when it imploded without him.
His passion also led to him having a very public spat with Darius Slay, who is currently a free agent but could return to Philly. And it could play into why he was moved yet again despite playing well.
Kenyon Green, who the Eagles get back, will presumably replace Mekhi Becton. He was drafted 15th overall back in 2022 but has yet to live up to that potential. But we saw Jeff Stoutland take a former 1st round pick and transform him into a star last year with Becton. Stoutland likely scouted him back in that draft and perhaps saw something he liked.
The Eagles defense has now lost Sweat, Williams, Isaiah Rodgers, Oren Burks, CJ Gardner Johnson, and potentially Slay. The depth behind those guys is fairly limited. There is a whole off-season left, including the draft. But Howie will have to get creative to keep the number 1 defense from last season among the elite units in the NFL.
