Eagles signing Gardner-Johnson to 3-year deal

The Philadelphia Eagles are signing defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson to a three-year deal worth up to $33 million in maximum value.

His agents, Kevin Conner and Robert Brown of Universal Sports, confirmed the deal to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday.

It’s a return to Philadelphia for Gardner-Johnson, who spent one season with the Eagles in 2022. He tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with six that season despite missing five games with a lacerated kidney.

He became the only Eagles player since the 1970 merger to record interceptions in five consecutive games.

After he hit free agency, the Lions signed Gardner-Johnson to a one-year deal last offseason to try to upgrade the secondary, but he was limited to just three games after suffering a torn pectoral in Week 2.

When active, Gardner-Johnson was productive, with 17 tackles, 3 passes defended and 1 interception during the regular season. He had another interception in the divisional round playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He pushed hard to try and change the defensive culture in Detroit, even urging Lions fans to don blue ski masks during games, which created early excitement.

Gardner-Johnson, a 2019 fourth-round pick, played his first three seasons with the New Orleans Saints before he was traded to the Eagles ahead of the 2022 season. With the Eagles, he tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions despite missing five games with a lacerated kidney.

He became the only Eagles player since the 1970 merger to record interceptions in five consecutive games.

Over five NFL seasons, Gardner-Johnson has 12 interceptions, 39 passes defended, 245 tackles and 4 sacks.

ESPN’s Eric Woodyard contributed to this report.