Let’s get it back to the Eagles:

CJGJ is the top free agent priority for the Eagles. Not only is he the most impactful UFA on the defensive side of the ball (depending on how you feel about Javon Hargrave), but the Eagles also have Marcus Epps entering free agency, so the safety position in general becomes elevated by virtue of the fact that only Reed Blankenship and K’Von Wallace are under contract for 2023.

If the Eagles do place the franchise tag on Gardner-Johnson, he’ll make $14.46 million. He earned $2.5 million in 2022, the final year of his rookie deal, and the tag would make him the 9th-highest paid safety in the league, right behind Budda Baker. The top five right now, going into the offseason, are Kevin Byard, Harrison Smith, Justin Simmons, Jamal Adams, and Quandre Diggs, who make north of $18 million. If they can’t come up with a long-term CJGJ deal, they can get him for less than that group of safeties and essentially kick the can down the road until next season.

Thing is, the Birds almost never use the tag. They haven’t tagged anyone since 2012, when D Jaxx got it. Howie Roseman likes to get deals done, and work flexibility into long term contracts. It’s just something the organization has philosophically tried to avoid, using the tag. The only other players to be tagged were Michael Vick, L.J. Smith, Corey Simon, and Jeremiah Trotter.

Regardless, they should get this done ASAP, and then probably focus on cornerback. Not sure the Eagles can afford James Bradberry again, so I’d say safety and CB2 are the top two priorities on the defensive side of the ball right now, followed by defensive tackle.