Philadelphia Eagles Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman has done it again. On Tuesday, the Philadelphia Eagles acquired S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and a 7th-round draft pick in 2025 from the Saints in exchange for a 5th-round pick in 2023 and the latter of the Eagles’ two 6th-round choices in 2024.
Gardner-Johnson and the Saints could not reportedly agree on a contract extension, and the Eagles swooped in and got a much-needed piece for their defense. Last season, Gardner-Johnson had three interceptions and two sacks.
Roseman discussed how the team acquired the 24-year-old star.
“First of all, there are a lot of conversations, during the preseason, certainly in the last couple weeks, and you’re trying to find teams that have fits for what you’re looking for,” Roseman said.
“Not that we were unhappy with our defensive backfield or our safety position, but we were looking for opportunities to get better. When we looked at New Orleans and the depth that they had on their roster, we thought maybe it would be a fit, and the conversations kind of came together here in the last 48 hours—excited to add him.
“He’s a heck of a player. He loves football. [Jokingly] Obviously, he went to the right college. We’ll just get him in here as quickly as possible, and I know our coaches will do a great job of getting him up to speed.”
Gardner-Johnson has a reputation around the league for trash-talking and being a ball-hawk. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni discussed what he had seen and heard about the fourth-year safety.
“Dangerous. Dangerous,” Sirianni said. “You have to be careful with him, throwing the ball at him. He’s just been around the ball a ton in his career and making plays.
“That trash talking, I know he gets the rap for that, but that’s part of his competitiveness, and I’d lie if I said I don’t trash talk a little bit, and I didn’t when I played or whatever it is and like that and do it in practice to raise the level of competition, I think that’s just all a part of it. Guys trash talk all the time in here shooting baskets out on the field.
“But the first thing that comes into my mind is dangerous. I think he’s one of these guys, too, that when you have him on your team, I think it’s really — you might not like playing against him, but you’re really glad he’s on your team.”
Great move for Philadelphia; they needed a safety, which looked as if it was going to be a weak spot for the team, but now, with Gardner-Johnson, Philly fills another need. It may take some time to get acclimated to the defense; however, that’s not a bad problem to have.
