Broncos' Rumored Interest in C.J. Gardner-Johnson Explained by Unearthed Tweet

C.J. Gardner-Johnson's links to Denver are strong.

When a head coach pulls the trigger on drafting a player out of the college ranks, that player often follows said coach throughout his career. The Denver Broncos have been linked to explosive free-agent safety C.J Gardner-Johnson, a talented difference-maker who, surprisingly, still remains available on the free-agent market.

You don't have to be that much of a detective to follow the Gardner-Johnson clues back to Sean Payton. After all, Payton was the head coach who originally drafted the versatile defensive back when he was with the New Orleans Saints in 2019. Still only 25 years old, Gardner-Johnson has already played in a Super Bowl and has amassed four years of NFL experience. 

Last season, he excelled for the NFC-champion Philadelphia Eagles, compiling 67 tackles and racking up six interceptions, the co-NFL lead alongside Denver's Justin Simmons. Gardner-Johnson’s chances of moving on from Philly could hinge on the decision Eagles GM Howie Roseman made on re-signing cornerback Darius Slay.

Gardner-Johnson statistical output in 2022 hints at the Saints making a grave mistake when they traded the safety to Philly prior to last season, a move that Payton heavily criticized right from the get-go via Twitter.

Sean Payton says the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade was a “steal” for the Eagles and he has no idea why the Saints traded him to Philly.

— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) February 7, 2023

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With the Eagles bringing back Slay on Thursday, the Broncos' opportunity to swoop in for Gardner-Johnson’s services improved dramatically. Of course, the stars would have to align in GM George Paton's world if a deal for Gardner-Johnson was to come to fruition. 

Up to this point, Paton has been busily spending Denver's Walmart money, but he's beginning to butt up against the pesky salary cap. Veteran safety Kareem Jackson will almost certainly depart from Denver, leaving third-year safety Caden Sterns to assume the starting role next to Simmons if the team doesn't add anyone else. 

Sterns missed much of last season due to a serious hip injury, so to a large extent, he remains an unknown commodity and one who will have to prove himself in a pass-happy division. Suffice to say, despite Gardner-Johnson’s relative youth, he would offer Payton another explosive, savvy presence on the back end of the defense. 

It would immediately give the Broncos one of the best ball-hawking safety tandems in the entire league. While it would undoubtedly prove expensive and curtail Sterns' starting ambitions, making one last big free-agent splash with Gardner-Johnson would provide more than just food for thought for Paton and Payton.

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