Steelers Could Form The Next Great Dynamic Safety Duo By Bringing In Gritty C.J. Gardner-Johnson

The Pittsburgh Steelers invested heavily in the secondary ahead of the 2023 season with the hopes of being set for the foreseeable future. While Joey Porter Jr. spent his rookie year shutting down the opponent's best receiver, it was rocky for the rest of the group. Without a reliable secondary, high-flying NFL offenses would shred any defense that can't consistently stop the pass. One name that could be a perfect fit for 2024 and beyond is C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

Steelers' Secondary Could Benefit By Getting Gardner-Johnson

Between Levi Wallace and Patrick Peterson, Pittsburgh believed that their 2023 secondary would be capable of handling dynamic offenses, but it didn't end up working out as well as they hoped. Outside of the season that Porter Jr. put together, the Steelers find themselves seeking more than what they saw in 2023.

Gardner-Johnson would bring grit and fire to the Steelers' secondary, which is sorely needed, as offenses routinely felt like they could pass without much consequence. During the 2023 campaign, the Detroit Lions used Gardner-Johnson as an in-the-box defender, as well as in the slot. Neither of those ways of utilizing the safety brought out the best in him, something that the Steelers would be able to rectify. Pro Football Network sees the collaboration of Gardner-Johnson and Pittsburgh as one that could certainly work.

"Steelers slot corner Chandon Sullivan is on track for free agency, while Pittsburgh might try to find a better second safety to play opposite Minkah Fitzpatrick this offseason. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson could compete for both roles and shouldn’t cost much after missing most of the 2023 campaign with a pectoral injury. Another one-year contract in the $6-8 million range could make sense."

Gardner-Johnson was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he spent the first three seasons of his career with New Orleans. His productive 2021 season with the Saints (3 interceptions, 2 sacks, and nearly 50 tackles) launched him to have his best year as a pro in 2022 with the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2022, Gardner-Johnson snagged 6 interceptions, put together a career-high in tackles (67), and was eager to build off that.

2023 had Gardner-Johnson playing for the Lions, with a leg and pectoral injury throwing a wrench into his plans to best his 2022 season. Still, the veteran safety showed that he still had a natural instinct for not only playing the pass, but rushing the quarterback. The Steelers value both traits highly, and the prospect of pairing Gardner-Johnson with Minkah Fitzpatrick could be exciting for Pittsburgh.

Steelers Hoping For Better Secondary Health In 2024

Injuries are a part of the deal in the NFL, but that doesn't mean they are any easier to handle when they strike. The 2023 Steelers were forced into trying a few combinations that were certainly not in the preseason plan due to injuries across the board in the secondary. Trenton Thompson, Fitzpatrick, Keanu Neal, and Elijah Riley spent varied amounts of time on the injury report, making it increasingly frustrating to put together a consistent defense.

While the Steelers know you can't avoid injury completely, they hope to address their depth in the secondary to ensure that the 2024 season isn't marred by injury like 2023 was. Despite battling more than just the opponents in 2023, the Steelers managed to finish the season on a somewhat high note. A Wild Card loss to the Buffalo Bills was more than Pittsburgh thought they would achieve after a brutal three-game losing streak in December. With a higher bar set for 2024, the Steelers know that depth is the key to being one of the last teams standing.

The core of Fitzpatrick and Joey Porter Jr. gives the Steelers a solid foundation for the next few years. What roles Wallace and Peterson will play, if any, will need to be sorted out. Pittsburgh's next step is to bring in players, both depth and starters, to help them find higher levels of success. Gardner-Johnson would be a great start to that process and would be a positive sign to fans that the aggressive 2023 offseason wasn't a fluke.

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