Eagles make big splash, trade for Saints' Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

Gardner-Johnon's agent confirmed the trade to Tom Pelissero.

Just before the trade it was reported that the Eagles were releasing starting safety Anthony Harris.

That is a pretty significant sequence of events for the Eagles as safety was one of the biggest weaknesses remaining on the roster. Gardner-Johnson is a significant upgrade over Harris in the short-term, is still only 24 years old, and has blossomed into a star defensive back.

Originally a fourth-round pick by the Saints in 2019, Gardner-Johnson started 31 games over the first three years of his career, intercepting five passes and defending 28 more. 

He was limiting his work in training camp in the hopes of landing a new contract with the Saints, but the two sides were never able to come to a deal. 

Instead, the Saints traded him. 

The Eagles have dramatically improved their defense this offseason with the additions of Haason Reddick, James Bradberry, the drafting of defensive tackle Jordan Davis in the first round and linebacker Nakobe Dean in the third round, and now the addition of Gardner-Johnson from the Saints. The Eagles were already a playoff team a year ago, and with those additions on defense might be the early favorites in the NFC East.