Tuesday came with a shocking turn of events for Saints fans when they heard the news that Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is heading to Philadelphia. New Orleans were having contract-extension discussions with the fourth-round pick out of Florida, but the two sides failed to come to an agreement.
What Did the Saints Give Up and What Did They Get in Return?
According to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, New Orleans is trading awey safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and a seventh-round pick in 2025. The black and gold are receiving the Eagles’ fifth-round pick in 2023 and the wrose of their two sixth-round picks in 2024.
Full trade terms:
🏈Eagles receive safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Saints’ 7th-round pick in 2025.
🏈Saints receive the Eagles’ 5th-round pick in 2023 and the worse of their two 6th-round picks in 2024.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2022
In conclusion, the Saints didn’t get much in return from the Eagles in a trade for one of the best young defenders in the league. It’s safe to say that Philadelphia won this trade. The Eagles have a plan to place for Gardner-Johnson to be a starter in Philadelphia’s secondary and serve as the starting safety.
Looking Back at Chauncey Gardner-Johnson’s Time in New Orleans
New Orleans took Gardner-Johnson in the with the 105th overall pick of the fifth round during the 2019 NFL Draft. The Saints were looking to improve their secondary with a versatile defender. During his three years with New Orleans the former Florida product racked up 157 tackles, three sacks, five interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. In his rookie season in 2019, he picked up 49 total tackles (38 solo), eight pass defended and one interception. The star defensive back would receive All-Rookie honors for his performance on the field during his rookie campaign. He continued that momentum into the 2020 season where he totaled for 66 total tackles (52 solo), one sack, 13 passes defended and one interception. Gardner-Johnson saw a drop in total tackles during the 2021 season, but he still made his presence known for the Saints defense. In 2021, he racked up 46 total tackles (31 solo), two sacks, four passes defended and three interceptions. Gardner-Johnson’s presence in the secondary will be missed, but New Orleans will now turn to rookie Alontae Taylor to fill the shoes that the former Florida product will leave behind. The key additions of Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye in the offseason will also try to fill the void of the 24-year old defensive back.
