Why Ex-Eagles Star C.J. Gardner-Johnson Could Be the Answer to Cowboys’ Problems

CJ Gardner-Johnson had 59 total tackles, 12 pass deflections, six interceptions in 2025 and could fill the void left by Trevon Diggs.

Why Ex-Eagles Star C.J. Gardner-Johnson Could Be the Answer to Cowboys’ Problems

CJ Gardner-Johnson (Image via IMAGO)

In Short
  • Dallas Cowboys hired Christian Parker as defensive coordinator after a poor 2025 season.
  • C.J. Gardner-Johnson, a former Eagle, could strengthen the Cowboys' struggling secondary.
  • Gardner-Johnson has faced locker room issues in previous teams, raising concerns about his fit in Dallas.

After recording historic bad numbers in the 2025 season, the Dallas Cowboys fired Matt Eberflus and replaced him with Christian Parker as the new defensive coordinator. With Parker on board, the Cowboys have the leverage to attract some top free agents. One name that should not take much to woo is C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

CJGJS knows the NFC East like the back of his hand. As a former Eagle, Gardner-Johnson bagged his only championship ring in 2024. Meanwhile, the Cowboys experienced a period of playoff drought. Brian Schottenheimer came in to fix the Cowboys.

He got the offense rolling. Dak Prescott played at an MVP level while both George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb crossed 1000 receiving yards. Javonte Williams also racked up 1000 yards on the ground and scored the eighth most touchdowns (16 total TDs).

The defense couldn’t keep up with the offense. Dallas allowed the most passing yards per game (251.5) in the league and gave up the 10th-most rushing yards per game (125.5).

To fix the defense, Schottenheimer and owner Jerry Jones recruited Parker. The first order of action for Parker is to add quality players to the secondary. Parker can take Charles Davis’ advice and select Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy at 12. The only issue is that McCoy tore his ACL during his senior year. And after how things went down with Trevon Diggs, Dallas should avoid pursuing another injury-hit DB.

Parker’s best bet is to dive into free agency and find a veteran familiar with his system. Enter CJ Gardner-Johnson, who played a key role in the Eagles’ Super Bowl run. Parker was the defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator for the past two seasons.

His first year back in Philly after a short spell in Detroit, Gardner-Johnson racked up 59 total tackles, 12 pass deflections, six interceptions (one returned for a TD), and two tackles for loss. He further made critical plays during the playoffs, including a couple of brilliant stops in the NFC title game.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson is George Pickens 2.0

There’s one big issue that the Cowboys must take into account before signing CJGJ. He’s not the most hospitable individual around. The 28-year-old is an excellent corner on the field, but he also tends to rub people the wrong way.

Why Ex-Eagles Star C.J. Gardner-Johnson Could Be the Answer to Cowboys' Problems
CJ Gardner-Johnson (Image via IMAGO)

Despite an inspiring year, the Eagles traded him to the Texans in exchange for guard Kenyon Green. However, after just three starts that yielded 15 combined tackles, the Texans released Gardner-Johnson on September 27.  NFL insider Aaron Wilson revealed that Gardner-Johnson was becoming a distraction in the locker room in Houston.

Among the issues Texans experienced behind the scenes with C.J. Gardner-Johnson, per sources, he was critical of teammates in the secondary and didn’t like his role. It was a locker room issue, and ultimately, this just wasn’t a good fit for the team and for a talented player.

His next stop was Baltimore, but after spending just a week on their practice squad, the Ravens cut him. Space opened up in Chicago as they needed a replacement for injured Kyler Gordon. Gardner-Johnson played 10 games, racking up 51 combined tackles, 3.0 sacks (most in a season), four pass deflections, two interceptions, and one forced fumble.

If the Cowboys do plan on signing ‘CJGJ’, they must keep a tight leash on him, similar to the way they handled another troublemaker, George Pickens. Astonishingly, the Pro Bowl wideout’s season went without much off-field drama. That said, a recent report showed that the Cowboys penalized Pickens every time he tried to stir up trouble.

The Cowboys need all the help they can get in defense. If the help comes from Gardner-Johnson, then Jones should explore the option of signing him to a contract.

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