The relentless overhaul of the Eagles’ defense took another leap following the trade of star safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans. While it seems like good business from one standpoint, as the Eagles got offensive lineman, Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-round pick in exchange for Gardner-Johnson and a 2026 sixth-rounder; it leaves a big hole in the heart of the Eagles’ defense that can only be filled by a player of his caliber.
C.J Gardner-Johnson was one of the least expected exits from the Eagles this window, seeing that he is only a year into his second stint with the team – having rejoined them last year on a three-year deal. The defensive back was also a significant part of the Eagles’ defense that was ranked best in the NFL and won the Vince Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LIX.
Having an impressive record of 59 tackles, 12 passes defended and six interceptions in 16 regular season games in the 2024 season, and four playoff appearances; Gardner-Johnson was in no way ready for his shock exit from the Eagles. He handled the situation with class, regardless.
The CJGJ-less Eagles must now find a replacement for their star safety, should they desire a defense in any way similar to what they had last season. While there aren’t many defensive backs who can replace Gardner-Johnson, the Eagles can bank on these ones to mitigate the effects of his loss:
4 players the Eagles could target
Justin Simmons
Justin Simmons is a great option in free agency. A name often linked with Philadelphia, he’s a veteran safety who had a record of 62 tackles, 2 interceptions and 7 pass deflections in 16 games last season for the Atlanta Falcons, and earned Second-Team-All-Pro honors in two of his three seasons in Denver.
A possible addition of Simmons to the Eagles’ roster will see him reunite with Eagles’ defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, and defensive backs coach, Christian Parker, who both coached Simmons with the Broncos.
With Simmons’ recent comments about the Eagles being “high on the list”, all that is left is for the Eagles to make a worthy move for a player who has shown huge admiration of the team’s offense, defense and the opportunity to reunite with his former coaches.
Damar Hamlin
Not as experienced as Simmons obviously, but another great option for the Eagles, Hamlin played and started in 14 games for the Buffalo Bills last season and had 89 tackles, 2 interceptions and 5 pass deflections.
Before being drafted by Buffalo Bills, Hamlin played football at the University of Pittsburgh and could be an impactful signing for the Birds.
His resilient mentality that spurred his comeback from a cardiac arrest he suffered during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals is commendable and could earn him a place on the roster of the defending champions if a deal works out..
Marcus Epps
Many might deem the possible addition of Marcus Epps as a high-risk gamble, having been let down by an ACL injury last season. However, his quality remains evident. With the Eagles on the lookout for a safety, Epps could make a Gardner-Johnson-esque return to the team after he left the Eagles following their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.
After his departure, he signed a two-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023, but suffered an injury setback that limited his gametime to just three games in the 2024 season.
However, he had 66 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 3 pass deflections, and four tackles-for-loss in the 2023 season – a record that makes him a worthy option to be considered in replacing Gardner-Johnson.
In-house Options
The in-house options may not be favoured by the fans. But when we consider Gardner-Johnson’s claims that he was made to leave because the management wanted to sign some of the team’s younger stars, we may as well take the in-house prospects seriously.
The question of whether it’s ideal for the Super Bowl defending champions to leave their defense in the hands of an unproven young gun would only be answered as the season unfolds.
However, the answer to Gardner-Johnson’s replacement could strangely lie in the overlooked Sydney Brown. The Eagles safety is entering his third year with the team and will surely be looking forward to getting a chance to compete for a starting spot.
Missing part of the 2024 season after suffering from a torn ACL in the 2023 regular season finale against the New York Giants, Brown has mostly been a special-teams contributor through his first two seasons in Philly. Backup defensive backs, like Trinstin McCollum, Lewis Cine and Andre Sam are also options for roles in Fangio’s defense.
Though the path the Eagles are headed looks a little mazy with how random this window has been, there’s hope for a great season. The Eagles still have the core of their Super Bowl-winning defense in custody: Zack Baun, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Jordan Davis, Quinyon Mitchell, Reed Blankenship and Cooper DeJean, while Becton and Goedert are the only uncertainties on the offense. As for questions regarding the younger defensive players, similar ones were raised last year about many of the unproven talents that have now become Super Bowl champions today.
Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
