Why the Bears should take a risk on C.J. Gardner-Johnson |
Dustin Riese
· · 8 hours ago
It's amazing how one win can drastically change the outlook for an entire season. After dropping their first two games of the season, it seemed as though the sky was falling on the Chicago Bears, as the fans turned on them quickly. Then came Sunday, where the Bears steamrolled past the Dallas Cowboys, changing the tune on what fans thought was going to be another rough season, and instead led them with plenty of optimism for what was to come.
No one is going to say that the win on Sunday was a season-changing win by any means, but when you look at the Bears ' upcoming schedule, you could make the case that this team should or at the very least could be 6-4 through 10 games, which would put them right in the middle of playoff contention. As is the case for any team battling it out for a playoff berth, you can never have too much talent on your roster, and the Bears are no strangers to adding talented players whenever they see fit. While most of the players they add are considered practice squad players, there are occasional mid-season free agent pickups that could change the outlook of the Bears' season. One name to consider is CJ Gardner-Johnson, who was recently released by the Houston Texans and is now on the open market to be had by any team. Gardner-Johnson was a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and after a strong start to his career with the Saints, he has since bounced around the league extensively, becoming more of a journeyman player. That is hard to believe, considering he is only 27 years old, but given his injury history over the past few seasons and the way he approaches his business on the field, adding him to any team would be a risk; however, one would think it's a risk worth taking. Considering the Bears will be without Jaylon Johnson for a while, why not look at Gardner-Johnson as a depth pickup for the secondary and add someone with plenty of veteran leadership? Across his now seven years in the league, Gardner-Johnson has been known as a ball-hawking, yet physical defensive back, having accumulated 18 career interceptions to date. With that comes nearly 250 return yards on those picks, as he has returned one of those interceptions for a score. While the overall numbers look solid, most of his interceptions have come with the Eagles, as 12 of his 18 picks came during two separate stints with Philadelphia. That included six last season en route to a Super Bowl ring as Gardner-Johnson played a massive role on the back end of that defense. Take those seasons out, and Gardner-Johnson has been a solid contributor, but not an elite player, as he has never had more than three interceptions in any other season. Sure, his health has had something to do with that, as he has battled plenty of injuries, but playing behind an aggressive defensive front like the Eagles have does make things easier for the back end to make plays. With the Texans off to a horrible 0-3 start, you had a sense that some changes were coming, but no one expected him to be on the open market this soon as the Texans released him from his deal. He has instantly become one of the top, if not the top, free agents on the market, and his addition to any defense would be a massive upgrade. While adding a player like Gardner-Johnson to the Bears' defense might not be seen as a pressing need, it would certainly be a significant acquisition, as he would bring valuable experience and playmaking ability to a defense that could use more of that. As long as the cost is there and the Bears don't have to break the bank for him, this is a move they should consider. Risky or not, he is worth the risk, and maybe he could add a similar impact that Micah Parsons has brought to the Packers.
