The Houston Texans acquired Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Offensive Tackle Kenyon Green. Philadelphia received a 2026 fifth-round pick and Houston received a 2026 sixth-round pick to complete the blockbuster trade.
Gardner-Johnson is coming off winning a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles last month. He had one of the best regular seasons of his career in 2024. Gardner-Johnson had 59 total tackles and 6 interceptions. The star cornerback was third in the NFL in interceptions. According to PFF, Gardner-Johnson was eighth in the league in coverage among safeties last season. Will he help bolster the defense of the Houston Texans in 2025?
Houston Texans Offseason Outlook
Houston’s defense was strong last season and they have leaned into that side of the ball early in free agency. They signed Defensive Tackle Sheldon Rankins to a one-year deal, re-signed Derek Barnett, and signed Defensive End Darrell Taylor.
While the Houston Texans have worked hard to improve their defense, their offensive line has fallen by the wayside over the last few weeks. They had the worst-ranked unit last season and have gutted it this offseason. They traded Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders yesterday and cut Shaq Mason last week.
Final Thoughts
It has been a bit of a mixed bag for the team this offseason. Houston must address its offensive line in the coming days to give young Quarterback C.J. Stroud better protection than he was afforded last season. Gardner-Johnson will bring his championship pedigree down to Texas as the team looks to break through in the AFC.
