C.J. Gardner-Johnson

After tying the league lead in interceptions (six) during a strong 2022 season in Philadelphia, Gardner-Johnson priced himself out of the cash-strapped Eagles' spending range this offseason but should see all the snaps he can handle at nickel back for the Lions within coordinator Aaron Glenn's defense. Even though it would be hard to count on any defensive back to repeat the ball-hawking stat line that he put together last year, the top-35 finish in tackles among defensive backs shows Gardner-Johnson also can contribute to the box score in other areas, making him someone to keep an eye on in Detroit's up-and-coming defense.

Gardner-Johnson is a versatile defensive back, with the ability to play both safety and cornerback. The addition of Tyrann Mathieu at safety likely will have Gardner-Johnson playing a backup role, but Gardner-Johnson has proven to be a solid nickelback for New Orleans. The 24-year-old played in just 12 games in 2021, dealing with a knee and a foot injury. In those games, Gardner-Johnson recorded 46 total tackles, seven passes defensed, a career-high three interceptions and two sacks. The fourth-year defender will look to improve upon last year's numbers in what should be a strong defensive backfield.

Establishing himself as the Saints' starting nickelback, Gardner-Johnson improved across the board in almost all defensive categories in 2020 and ultimately finished with Pro Football Focus' fourth-highest grade among slot defenders to play at least 350 snaps. Because the Saints added almost no competition for him, he should continue to log all the reps he can handle when the Saints go to their nickel package. Odds are that the 23-year-old's best football is to come, and, if he can limit missed tackles after racking up 19 last year, it wouldn't be a surprise if he tops the 66 stops he made a season ago.

The fourth-rounder out of Florida enjoyed a solid inaugural campaign, appearing in all 16 regular-season contests in 2019, including seven starts. He ended the season with 49 combined tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Playing time could be harder to come by in 2020 due to the addition of Malcolm Jenkins to the secondary, as Jenkins will be the likely starter. Still, there's room for optimism for the second-year man to fill a reserve role in New Orleans' secondary thanks to his strong rookie play and the need for depth at safety.