As the first week of 2023 free agency wound down, the Detroit Lions landed what looked like a steal. C.J. Gardner-Johnson tied for the league lead with six interceptions the season before with the Philadelphia Eagles, and he seemed like just the right mix of skill and personality to be a tone-setter in the Detroit secondary.
But sometimes things just don't go as planned, and it's no one's fault. Gardner-Johnson missed a big chunk of the 2023 season due to a torn pectoral, playing in a total of six games including the playoffs.
It became clear the Lions would not be re-signing Gardner-Johnson in 2024, and he ended up getting a three-year deal to go back to the Eagles.