It seems like forever ago, and in a lot of ways it was, but it was 2.5 years ago that the New Orleans Saints traded defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson. That trade finalizes during the 2025 NFL Draft, believe it or not, so we can finally wrap a bow on it.
Original terms of the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade
Saints received: 2023 fifth-round pick, 2024 sixth-round pick
Eagles received: C.J. Gardner-Johnson, 2025 seventh-round pick
The draft orders for all of those picks were eventually decided, so here are where they all settled:
Saints received: 2023 draft 165 overall pick, 2024 199 overall pick
Eagles received: C.J. Gardner-Johnson, 2025 223 overall pick
What did the Saints do with the picks from the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade?
New Orleans included the 2023 fifth-round pick to the Chicago Bears as part of a package to move up and select guard Nick Saldiveri. Saldiveri has struggled to find playing time, logging just 362 offensive snaps through his first two seasons.
The Saints used the 2024 pick to add defensive tackle Khristian Boyd. Boyd was on the field for only 74 defensive snaps during his rookie campaign.
How was C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s performance for the Eagles?
After being acquired from the Saints, Gardner-Johnson started twelve games and recorded a half-dozen interceptions for Philadelphia during the 2022 season. He played in three playoff games that season including the Super Bowl loss to KC.
He returned to the Eagles after a year in Detroit and won a Super Bowl but he was traded to the Houston Texans this offseason.
Who did the Eagles select with the picks from the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade?
Along with Gardner-Johnson, Philadelphia received pick 223 in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Philadelphia traded the pick to Pittsburgh as part of the Kenny Pickett swap, then the Steelers sent it to Seattle as part of the DK Metcalf trade.
Ultimately, Seattle took Miami RB Damien Martinez at the selection.