Houston Texans Won the CJ Gardner-Johnson Trade, But It’s Not as Bad for the Eagles as I First Thought

A couple of days after the trade, my initial reaction still holds—the Texans absolutely won this deal. Moving on from Kenyon Green, who struggled with injuries and performance, while adding a proven playmaker like CJ Gardner-Johnson is a massive upgrade.

However, after taking a closer look at the contracts and Philly’s reasoning, I see why the Eagles made this move. They get a former first-round pick in Green, who now gets a fresh start under the best OL coach in the league, Jeff Stoutland. Sometimes a change of scenery is necessary for a young player, and Philly is betting they can turn his career around, similar to what they did with Mekhi Becton last year.

For Houston, Gardner-Johnson immediately elevates an already strong secondary, bringing versatility and playmaking ability. Plus, the Texans were actively looking for a safety upgrade, as Ian Rapoport reported they were in on Jevon Holland before he signed with the Giants. Instead, they landed CJGJ on a better deal and with far less risk.

There’s a lot more to unpack, including how this move impacts the Texans’ depth chart, why Jimmie Ward’s role could change, and how Houston quickly replaced Green with a veteran. Plus, I’ve got all the relevant clips and contract details in my full analysis.

🔗 Read it here: https://www.houstonstressans.com/post/houston-texans-land-cj-gardner-johnson-in-surprise-trade-moving-on-from-kenyon-green