10 prospects besides Brian Branch Eagles can draft to replace Gardner-Johnson

While we realize that some of you are crestfallen, it won’t be as hard for the Eagles to replace C.J. Gardner-Johnson as you think.

Occasionally, guys come through and split the Philadelphia Eagles fan base. Teammates choose sides. Fans and the media draw battle lines. Civil war breaks out and social media is the backdrop. Think about the Donovan McNabb/Terrell Owens feud. Think about Carson Wentz if you need any examples. At times, we have ‘agreed to disagree’ on smaller scales.

We debate timelines. We argue about legends we have cheered for and how much they have left (or when the productive years ended if they have). And, then there’s C.J. Gardner-Johnson. He has become a conversation unto himself.

Following his departure in free agency, had you polled the fan base, you would have learned that we had split yet again, There’s a contingent that supported his dismissal, and their number grew following his Twitter tirades, but there were also those that were up in arms about his departure.

Last year, he tied for the league lead in interceptions (six) with Minkah Fitzpatrick (Pittsburgh Steelers), Tariq Woolen (Seattle Seahawks), and Justin Simmons (Denver Broncos). Guys don’t just wake up, roll out of bed, and accomplish that sort of thing. They do so because they’re gifted.

The following statements are also true. Splash plays, a bone-jarring tackle in the Super Bowl, and swagger aren’t the only components needed for great safety play. NFL teams and coaches don’t value C.J. in the same manner that his fan club does.

Pro Football Focus ranked the top 25 safeties in the NFL. He was noticeably absent. The New Orleans Saints, his home for the first three seasons of his NFL career, traded him and a 2025 seventh-round pick to Philly with one year remaining on his rookie deal. A fifth-round pick and the lower of the Eagles’ pair of sixth-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft were accepted as payment.

It seemed fishy at the time. Much has happened in the aftermath, but here’s the point. C.J. won’t be irreplaceable.

There have been discussions about Budda Baker. Some say drafting a player is the better option. If Philly explores the latter theory, they’ll have some options, even if they miss out on Brian Branch.