Brian Branch insists that the Lions sign the veteran defensive starter again.
After appearing in just six games for the Detroit Lions, veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson may decide to leave in free agency. However, Gardner-Johnson would be re-signed by the Lions if it were up to fellow defensive back Brian Branch.
Branch responded to a post on X (previously Twitter) asking if the Lions should bring back Gardner-Johnson with, “Yes, bring this mf back.”
Gardner-Johnson injured his pectoral muscle in Week 2, which limited his regular season action for the Lions to just three games. For the final regular season game and the three playoff games for the squad, Gardner-Johnson made a comeback.
He recorded a total of 17 tackles, 3 pass defenses, and 1 interception in three regular season games. In the playoffs, Gardner-Johnson also recorded 12 total tackles, 1 interception, and 1 pass defense.
The 26-year-old was signed by the Lions to a one-year, $6.5 million deal during the previous offseason.
The Lions should think about re-signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson; Brian Branch is correct.
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Unfortunately, Branch missed a significant portion of the regular season due to the pectoral muscle damage. Still, the Lions got a taste of what makes Gardner-Johnson such a valued asset.
When Gardner-Johnson reached a career-high 67 total tackles for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, he averaged around the same number of tackles per game. For Detroit, he also averaged a pass defense per game.
He recorded eight pass defenses and six interceptions in 2022, which equaled him for the NFL lead.
Pass defense is without a doubt Detroit’s greatest vulnerability going into the offseason. The Lions placed 29th in net yards allowed per attempt and 27th in passing yards given up.
Pundits have linked the Lions to a number of edge rushers and cornerbacks in the NFL draft and free agency because of this.
The return of Gardner-Johnson to safety would also help Detroit’s secondary. In addition, if general manager Brad Holmes is planning a significant move at cornerback, it wouldn’t affect any draft or free agency plans.
The Influence of Gardner-Johnson Exceeds the Field.
Gardner-Johnson’s contributions to the Lions go beyond what he does on the field, too.
Notoriety has it that the 26-year-old is among the NFL’s finest trash talkers. Though his stubbornness often gets the best of him, his comrades are inspired by his spirit.
At June 7 minicamp, Lions head coach Dan Campbell remarked, “He’s got a contagious energy.” “That’s how C.J. [Gardner-Johnson] starts his engine, which is one of the reasons he is that way. That then simply trickles down to your teammates and the offense.
The intensity level is something you can’t control. It elevates. I believe that improves and increases the competitiveness of everyone around you.
Despite not playing much on the field in 2023, Gardner-Johnson’s energy was probably felt by the Lions. He kept fans updated on his condition almost every week, insisting he had almost fully recovered from his pectoral ailment.
That might have had a favorable effect on Branch, who made a great first season for the Lions in 2023.
Nevertheless, Ifeatu Melifonwu, a former third-round safety, became a playmaker for Detroit’s defense by the end of December despite Gardner-Johnson missing a large portion of the regular season. Kerby Joseph, another third-round pick at safety, has a 2024 deal with the Lions.
Joseph and Melifonwu are both under 25 years old.
The Lions must make sure that Gardner-Johnson’s comeback does not impede those young players’ development.
However, it makes perfect sense for the Lions to re-sign the seasoned safety as they aim to win the Super Bowl the following season.
