After signing with the Detroit Lions in free agency, it’s safe to say C.J. Gardner-Johnson is all-in on his new team.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson lingered on the open market longer than expected, and perhaps longer than he should have, before news broke Sunday night he was signing a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions.
Gardner-Johnson and his agent miscalculated what his market would be, which worked to the advantage of the Lions to get a bargain. Ties to the Lions coaching staff from his time with the New Orleans Saints, particularly defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (the Saints defensive backs coach in Gardner-Johnson’s first two NFL seasons), made Detroit an ideal destination when it came down to it.
Gardner-Johnson had his introductory press conference on Monday. He offered all the expected pleasantries in such a setting, while also speaking to his “father-son” relationship with Glenn. But he went all in on a certain topic.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson is all-in on how good the 2023 Detroit Lions can be
Gardner-Johnson of course just spent one season with the Philadelphia Eagles, as he tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions for the NFC champs. Top to bottom, 1-53, the 2022 Eagles were one of the most talented teams in the league.
But how does the Lions’ current talent level, after some notable free agent moves, compare to last year’s Eagles?
"To be honest with you, it’s a little better, but that’s just on me,” Gardner-Johnson said. “Everybody can look from the outside looking in, but that’s just on me, from the outside looking in, but this team has talent. This team, we can win the division, possibly win the division. Everybody should feel that way, but when I look at a team coming from where I came from, and the teams I’ve played on that won multiple divisions, been to playoff games, and been to the Super Bowl, this team has what it takes to get there, win the division and get to the playoffs.”"
In terms of seeing and knowing what it takes to win, Gardner-Johnson does know of which he speaks based on success with the Saints and coming of a run to the Super Bowl with the Eagles.
Press conference comments have to be taken with some grain of salt, since it’s a positive, celebratory setting that will mostly avoid any ways that things won’t go well. But Gardner-Johnson didn’t have to go the way he did to talk up the Lions’ roster, and he seems to be all-in on his role as a new team leader and tone setter.