Inside the Article:
Ever since Brad Holmes took over as general manager of the Detroit Lions, he has made it very clear that he believes in building a core roster through the NFL Draft. Well, Holmes now has two offseasons under his belt, and he has stayed true to building through the draft, as he is yet to make a huge splash in free agency. Could Holmes switch gears in free agency and sign S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson when the free agency period begins?
Why it Matters
Holmes recently told reporters that he is not opposed to signing a top free agent, he also said he does not think the team is just one player away from contending for a Super Bowl.
“I don’t even know when that one-player-away window comes, and if it does come, it doesn’t matter we’re still trying to get players,” Holmes said. “But there’s some areas that we’ll look at and address, and we’ll be wise and smart and strategic in how we add. But again, we don’t just spend big on getting a high-price guy. It’s got to be the right fit, and it’s got to be the right guy. And if it’s not the right guy, then it doesn’t matter what the outside world thinks.”
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson suggested as fit for Lions
Jordan Dajani recently released an article in which he takes a look at one player each NFL team should prioritize when the free agency period begins, and he suggests Gardner-Johnson for Detroit.
While the Eagles surely want to hold onto CJGJ, I got excited thinking about him teaming up with Dan Campbell and the Lions. Detroit's offseason is going to be centered around adding on defense, and signing a versatile chess piece that roams the secondary would be perfect for the Lions. The former Saint recorded a league-high six interceptions for the Eagles in 2022.
Bottom Line
If Holmes wants to land Gardner-Johnson in free agency, he is going to have to pony up with a huge contract offer. In fact, according to Spotrac.com, the current market value for Gardner-Johnson is a whopping 5 yrs, $70,397,435 (roughly $14 million per season). That would certainly count as a massive contract, and Holmes would not only have to believe that Gardner-Johnson is a fit, but he will have to believe that he can be the top player in the secondary.
