Grading Lions' Signing of Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

Detroit Lions have significantly upgraded their secondary.

The Detroit Lions have made yet another big move in free agency.

General manager Brad Holmes made a splash in the late hours Sunday. The Lions signed versatile safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson to a one-year, $8.5 million deal, with $6.5 million guaranteed.

The move adds another experienced and proven player to their secondary. He joins cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley as offseason additions to the Lions’ defensive backfield.

Detroit has spared little expense to improve its secondary, as Holmes and company have shown determination to fix one of the league’s worst units a year ago. Gardner-Johnson will play a big part in the secondary’s revival.

Last season, he was among the best players on a dominant Philadelphia Eagles defense. Opponents had just a 63.8 passer rating when targeting him, and he finished with a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 66.2.

PFF ranked him as the No. 25 available free agent entering the offseason, stating his versatility as an important asset to wherever he was bound to end up.

“The former Saints slot cornerback’s versatility was on full display in Week 18 against the New York Giants fresh off injured reserve, logging a few key snaps in the slot with Avonte Maddox out with an injury and allowing just two receptions for five yards to go along with two defensive stops,” reads his free agency profile on PFF. “The interesting thing with his market will be where his next team – if he doesn’t stay in Philadelphia – projects him in the lineup, with safeties earning a lot more on average than slot cornerbacks.”

The 25-year-old has familiarity with Detroit’s coaching staff, as he began his career playing for the New Orleans Saints when both Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn were on staff. He worked closely with Glenn, who was the Saints’ secondary coach for his first two seasons.

Among the appealing qualities the four-year veteran has in his repertoire is a nose for the football. He has 11 career interceptions, which trumps the amount that Jeff Okudah, Will Harris, Jerry Jacobs, Tracy Walker III and Kerby Joseph have combined.

Six of those interceptions from Gardner-Johnson came in 2022, even though injuries limited him to just 12 games. He had this success playing a number of roles, as he split time playing safety and cornerback. At 5-foot-11, 210 pounds, he’s physical enough, and has the size to play wherever he’s needed.

Per PFF, he played 443 snaps at free safety, 202 in the box and 208 at slot corner. This versatility will make him a huge asset to Detroit’s defense.

The Lions have plenty of weapons now in their revamped secondary. Gardner-Johnson will join the likes of Kerby Joseph and Tracy Walker III, in addition to new signings Sutton and Moseley.

Joseph emerged as a ball-hawk safety when his playing time increased, as he led the team with four interceptions. Walker, meanwhile, has been a steady presence in the defensive backfield, but missed the season’s final 14 games due to a torn Achilles.

With the injured veteran set to return at some point and Joesph likely reclaiming the free safety role, Detroit’s newest signing should slide in at slot corner, with Sutton and either Moseley or Okudah set to man the outside corner positions.

Holmes has used the free-agency period to make his team better. The Lions are building toward contention, and the signing of Gardner-Johnson is the latest example.

Grade: A