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Philadelphia Eagles 2019 NFL Draft watch: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

By Geoffrey Knox

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 29: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson #23 of the Florida Gators returns an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 29: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson #23 of the Florida Gators returns an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
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After a successful collegiate career, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is ready for the 2019 NFL Draft. Might the Philadelphia Eagles be a potential landing spot?

Picture it. What if we said the Philadelphia Eagles had one of the best starting safety tandems in the entire NFL? What if one was as close to indestructible as any mortal man could be but also aging? All the Eagles would have to do then is find some pretty reliable options for depth and build some confidence in this unit for the future. We know no one’s stating anything impossible because all we’ve really done here is describe exactly where ‘The Birds’ are as the 2019 NFL Draft approaches. Enter Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.

He’s a versatile defensive back out of Florida who’s been slotted in the safety position but has also shown he can make a slot receiver’s life uncomfortable as he was moved to the nickel corner spot prior to his junior year.

Hmmm. We’re talking a versatile safety who can play close to the line and double as a cover guy when necessary. Where have we heard that before? Malcolm Jenkins perhaps?

Jenkins is that ‘Iron Man’ that we all discussed. No, we’ll go with ‘Superman’, but every NFL ‘Superman’ has the ‘kryptonite’ of old age, and it can’t be believed that Philly’s totally set at safety when your best one will turn 32 during the 2019 season and his counterpart is coming off a season where he wound up on the IR (injured reserve).

Philly’s reserves feature two guys who are still a little raw and unproven, Tre Sullivan and Deiondre’ Hall, and a veteran who is also aging and has a tendency to struggle to stay on the field, newly acquired Andrew Sendejo.

The Eagles, according to Jordan Reid of Cover 1, met with Gardner-Johnson on the 11th of this month, so there seems to be pretty real interest. Could he be added to the Eagles family when the upcoming draft begins?

NFL.com compares him to former Eagles safety Nate Allen and believes he could become a starter. Here’s more of what they said in his draft profile:

"(Gardner-Johnson started) 11 of 13 games played and (made) 71 stops, nine for loss, three sacks, a team-high four interceptions and two pass breakups. As a sophomore, Gardner-Johnson started all 11 games for the Gators, posting 58 stops, six for loss, two interceptions and seven pass breakups. In 2016, Gardner-Johnson started as a reserve defensive back and special teams contributor (team-high eight of his 32 tackles that year on coverage units), but eventually started three times in 13 games played. He tied for the team lead with three interceptions, two of which came in the Outback Bowl. He was the game’s MVP, becoming the first freshman to win that honor at Florida since Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith. Gardner-Johnson was a USA Today All-Florida selection as a high school senior at Cocoa High before going to Gainesville."

Jot his name down ladies and gentlemen. You’ll be hearing more about him as April’s draft approaches.

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