Eagles pull off commerce for Saints DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

The Eagles lastly addressed their security drawback.

All summer season we knew that Marcus Epps was one in every of their starters however the remainder of that place remained up within the air. On Tuesday, they hopefully solved that drawback by pulling off a commerce for Chauncey Gardner-Johnson from the Saints, a league supply confirmed to NBC Sports activities Philadelphia.

Listed here are the phrases of the commerce, per ESPN:

Eagles get: Gardner-Johnson, Saints’ seventh-rounder in 2025

Saints get: Eagles’ Fifth-rounder in 2023 and the more serious of their two sixth-rounders in 2024

If Gardner-Johnson provides the Eagles’ secondary a lift, even for only a yr, this commerce will clearly be price it. A formidable transfer from Howie Roseman.

The Eagles additionally launched final yr’s starter Anthony Harris, based on a report from ESPN.

A flexible defensive again, Gardner-Johnson has performed a number of positions however has performed most as a nickel nook. The plan for him in Philly, nevertheless, shall be to play as a full-time security:

Whereas Gardner-Johnson has been versatile in his profession, essentially the most time he’s spent at security got here in 2019, when he performed 102 snaps within the field and 69 at free security, based on ProFootballFocus. The majority of his NFL snaps have been within the slot. It is vital to notice that nickel cornerback Avonte Maddox additionally gives versatility. It’s going to be fascinating to see how defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon performs this.

Both method, these strikes signify a transparent improve on the Eagles’ largest place of want coming into the 2022 season.

 

Gardner-Johnson remains to be simply 24 and received’t flip 25 till December. The 2019 fourth-round decide from Florida has been within the NFL for 3 seasons. He has 43 video games and 31 begins underneath his belt. Final season, he performed in 12 video games with 11 begins and had 3 interceptions, 7 cross breakups, 2 sacks and 46 tackles.

He additionally has an aggressive streak and might at instances be an instigator. Eagles followers will in all probability actually get pleasure from having Gardner-Johnson on the staff.

As Gardner-Johnson enters the ultimate yr of his rookie contract, he has a base wage of $2.54 million in 2022. If he performs nicely, there’s an opportunity the Eagles might signal him to an extension throughout the season.

Right here’s a take a look at the Eagles’ projected secondary in 2022:

CB: Darius Slay

CB: James Bradberry

NCB: Avonte Maddox

S: Marcus Epps

S: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson