Whereas lots of his friends aren’t so excessive on C.J. Gardner-Johnson, one NFL analyst remains to be all-in on the Detroit Lions security, regardless of a bumpy season.
Just some weeks out from free company, NFL writers are dropping their lists of high gamers in the marketplace. The Lions solely have a couple of, and on the subject of CJGJ, most analysts don’t have him very excessive on their lists. Regardless of coming into 2023 with excessive expectations, Gardner-Johnson’s season was derailed when he tore his pec within the Lions’ Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He would go on to return for the season finale towards the Minnesota Vikings — a reasonably quick return for such an damage — however many media members nonetheless aren’t too excessive on him.
For instance, CBS Sports activities’ Pete Prisco clocks the security in at No. 86. Coincidentally, Professional Soccer Community additionally ranked him at that very same spot, writing, “Gardner-Johnson’s consolation at security or the slot means he might be a match for greater than half the league. He’s nonetheless solely 26 years previous, so there’s no purpose he can’t land one other one-year, $6-8 million deal to rebuild his worth.”
Dan Pizzuta over at The thirty third Crew evaluated Gardner-Johnson at No. 63, explaining, “If there’s a return to well being, he might be an ideal buy-low for a staff needing assist in the secondary.”
In the meantime, ProFootballTalk positioned him lifeless final at No. 100. You get the image — not very excessive throughout the board.
So when NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal ranked him at No. 19, I used to be fairly stunned.
“I’ll by no means cease believing in Ceedy Duce as a multi-hyphenate difference-maker,” he writes. “Identical to I by no means stopped believing in Tyrann Mathieu when he hit free company twice in a row throughout the center of his profession.”
For reference, the Honey Badger will not be what he as soon as was, however in the previous couple of years has been instrumental in serving to the New Orleans Saints protection enhance from second to final in compelled turnovers final in 2022 to 3rd within the league this previous season, our pals at Canal Avenue Chronicles clarify. Is that this an apt comparability? May Gardner-Johnson do one thing related in 2024? Rosenthal certain thinks so.
And onto the remainder of your notes.
Finish of an period. Peter King pens his ultimate Soccer Morning in America, reflecting on his legendary profession. In a single section, he does point out an fascinating factoid about Chris Spielman. Seize a tissue and revel in.
Loads of NFL Mix stuff. We’ve bought a preview from The Detroit Information’ Justin Rogers specializing in offensive prospects for the Lions. That is the primary of a two-part sequence, subsequent up will naturally be — you guessed it, defensive prospects. So maintain your eyes out for that. ($)
Within the newest episode of Needed Roughness, Jon Jansen and TJ Lang debate a couple of issues, together with what are the precise advantages of the mix for gamers and what are the Lions high three wants.
Brad Holmes and Lomas Brown participated in a Black Historical past Month panel. A suggestion: across the 4 minute mark, Holmes tells a narrative I actually preferred about how in his previous as an intern, he wasn’t trying on the subsequent step, he was centered on being one of the best on the function he was already in. I believe it’s wonderful to have an concept of the place you wish to go, however nonetheless necessary to attempt exhausting at what you’re doing now as a substitute of skipping forward. Am I utilizing Notes as a diary proper now? Possibly. Anyway test it out:
Apparently there might be a comic book con-like occasion for sports activities in June referred to as the Detroit Sports activities Spectacular and Barry Sanders has been introduced as a visitor.
