C.J. Gardner-Johnson Reacts to Eagles Trade: ‘People Showed Their True Colors

The Philadelphia Eagles' decision to trade safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson had many scratching their heads

The team did receive an intriguing prospect in former first-round pick Kenyon Green in return, along with a fifth-round pick from the Houston Texans in exchange for Gardner-Johnson.

The Eagles moved on from a productive starter on a Super Bowl-winning defense in exchange for a player with upside who has yet to live up to his draft status.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson's Stats with the Eagles

So why did the Eagles decide to move on from a player who was as productive as Gardner-Johnson has been in his two stints with the team? Gardner-Johnson started 20 games for the Eagles, including the postseason during the 2024 season, notching 59 tackles, six interceptions, and 12 pass breakups. In 2022, his first stint with the team, he also had 67 tackles, six picks, and a sack.

Gardner-Johnson Reacts to Trade on Instagram

Gardner-Johnson posted a cryptic video message on his Instagram account on Monday, which appears to throw some shade at the organization.

"People showed me their true colors when I got traded," Gardner-Johnson said in an Instagram video. That’s why you haven’t heard or seen from me — ya dig?"

It appears Gardner-Johnson still isn't thrilled about being moved by Philadelphia.  If you remember, he tried to make the trade while going live during a John Madden football game.  He stated that he thought the trade was an April Fool's joke, but admitted the phone call was "a great phone call" that he received, telling him he had been traded.

During the video, Gardner-Johnson acknowledged that the younger players needed to get paid, and with him getting older, there was no bad blood with this decision.

So it appears that Gardner-Johnson is cool with being traded, but not so much with things that have been said since the deal.

Who Will Replace Gardner-Johnson at Safety?

With Gardner-Johnson gone, a quick look at the Eagles' safety depth chart for 2025 has Sydney Brown, Tristin McCollum, and Lewis Cine in-house to help fill that role.  The team could also look to add another safety to the room in free agency or the upcoming NFL Draft.

The NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 24, and you can listen to all the picks on 97.3 ESPN.