The Texans’ efforts to renovate their offensive line continue. The team has a trade agreement in place to send guard Kenyon Green to the Eagles, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. Houston is receiving defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson in return. In total, the swap consists of Green and a 2026 fifth-round pick in exchange for Gardner-Johnson and a sixth-rounder next year. 
Houston swung a trade with the Commanders yesterday which will see left tackle Laremy Tunsil head to Washington. That move – coupled with the previous release of guard Shaq Mason – leaves the team with several question marks up front. Improving their pass protection was seen as a major priority for the Texans, and general manager Nick Caserio is making a slew of changes to the unit in the hopes of taking a step forward in 2025.
Gardner-Johnson, meanwhile, is entering his seventh year in the league and the Texans will mark his fourth team. The former Saints draftee was traded to the Eagles in 2022, and he played a key role in Philadelphia’s run to the Super Bowl with a league-leading six interceptions. Instead of parlaying his production into a lucrative second contract, tough, Gardner-Johnson took only a one-year deal with the Lions.
A one-and-done stint in Detroit was followed by a return to the Eagles, this time on a three-year, $27MM pact. Gardner-Johnson is owed $8.5MM in 2025 and another $10.5MM the following year, although his scheduled cap hit for the coming campaign ($4.91MM) was certainly manageable for the defending champions. This move will generate a dead money charge of $4.7MM for Philadelphia while resulting in just $211K in savings.
Gardner-Johnson again served as a full-time starter during his second Eagles stint, racking up six interceptions and 12 pass deflections. His eight touchdowns allowed in coverage could be a cause for concern for the Texans, but the 27-year-old will be counted on to serve as a playmaker in a Texans secondary which proved to be effective last year with the cornerback tandem of Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. Houston ranked sixth against the pass in 2024, and continued success in that department can be expected.
This move marks further changes in the Eagles’ secondary, meanwhile. Philadelphia has decided to release Darius Slay and James Bradberry, and on Monday fellow corner Isaiah Rodgers agreed to a deal with the Vikings. With Gardner-Johnson set to be on the move (the trade cannot be finalized until the new league year begins tomorrow, of course), Philadelphia will need to make a number of moves during the secondary waves of free agency and the draft to restock the defensive backfield.
Green entered the NFL with high expectations as a first-round pick. The Texas A&M product served as a full-time starter during his rookie campaign, but he was sidelined for the entire 2023 season due to a shoulder injury. Green returned to action this past year, logging nine starts and 12 appearances at left guard. Much like his rookie slate, though, his PFF evaluation left plenty to be desired. Green’s overall grade of 38.6 ranked second-last amongst qualifying guards.
Presuming the Eagles decline his fifth-year option, one year will remain on Green’s rookie contract. The soon-to-be 24-year-old will provide the team with a cost-effective option along the interior. Mekhi Becton upped his free agent value considerably as a guard starter in 2024, and his departure could allow for Green to compete for a first-team gig. At a minimum, he will be able to fill in as a spot-starter as needed on an otherwise expensive O-line.
Interesting trade. Definitely didn’t expect the Eagles to move on from Gardner-Johnson, particularly for Green and a pick swap.
Probably two things: he isn’t the best locker-room guy and the Eagles probably think they have a cheaper replacement.
I guarantee you they don’t. They never do.
Not a huge fan of CJGJ but I think the locker room loves him. Defense is gonna miss him I think. Not a huge Green fan but I have faith in Stout.
The Eagles are prioritizing sustainability. This is consistent with how they’ve been run for decades. Invest heavily in the offensive and defensive lines and then build around that. They have good young defensive backs on the roster and they will fill in the gaps through drafting and waiver pickups. With this defensive line it takes some pressure off the defensive backs. It’s just the reality of a salary cap you need to let some guys go and keep bringing in new cheap guys.
Absolutely. I just didn’t expect them to sign him to a fairly large contract then ship him out after one season for a bad lineman. After thinking about it, though, it’s less the fact that they traded him and more the return they received that puzzled me.
Howie gotta something up his sleeve. I like what he’s doing though. In 2018 after they win they kept on to guys too long. Keep the team fresh and young outside of the core core players.
It was actually the opposite in 2018. They got rid of their most important guys and had nobody good enough to replace them.
One little tidbit, Kenyon’s birthplace is Humble, Texas – which is the birthplace of one Jalenn Hurts.
Wow… Fangio must have some confidence in the younger guys to step up next year. Stoutland will get to work with Green and get him back on track. I think this means goodbye to Becton…unless he really comes back on the cheap. I gotta believe they are also working on an extension for Jalen Carter now. And I wouldn’t be surprised at all if AJ Brown is moved before training camp.
If they move AJ Brown, they’ll be back to not even making the playoffs.
And I’ll be done as an Eagles fan. Period.
This is beyond idiotic.
Yeah right…..you should be running the Eagles. Howie knows what he is doing. Let’s see what the team looks like in camp. And I’m not advocating to trade Brown. But if they were to say trade him to Patriots for a first round pick this year (Vrabel back on Patriots, someone for Maye to throw to, etc….) then the Eagles draft the best wide receiver in this draft and get younger at a skill position. That McMillan from Arizona is the real deal…. or drop a bit lower in the first round and get Warren (TE) or best Defensive / Offensive lineman….we have options thats all I’m saying. Dropping Brown and we are still a playoff team. And you’ll still be at the next parade. Or you’re not a real fan.
The AJ Brown stuff is clickbait nonsense. It was started by the usual talk radio fake news click bait artists and concocted by trying to link him to Vrabel and the Patriots, stemming from the Pats doing what all new regimes do in calling the 31 other teams about anyone and everything.
I like it
Green never worked out as hoped being the 15th overall pick
Next move should be to sign Kevin Zeitler and draft Greb Zabel
Next year the oline should be
Fisher LT
Zeitler LG
Patteron C
Zabel RG
Howard RT
Scruggs can fill in as back up LG, C, RG
Should draft a tackle to serve as depth
Anways draft wise
Round 1 – Greg Zabel
Round 2 – Alfred Collins or run stopping DT
Round 3 – WR
Round 4 – Tackle project
@easy. This probably the worst year to revamp the oline. I’m almost positive chargers get zabel, and Wouldn’t mind zeitler neither. I wouldn’t have traded tunsil either unless they trade up it’s pretty much no man’s land for line help.
I think chargers grab Kenneth Grant
Michigan alum
Fills a need as a run stopping DT now that Poona Ford signed elsewhere
I honestly can see the Chargers drafting back to back d line
Round 1 Kenneth Grant DT
Round 2 Sawyer or Tuimoloau out of OSU edge.
@easy. Harbaugh doesn’t draft former players as much as people speculate. I do agree it will be oline and dline, because that’s the ravens track record and hortiz was the head scout or #3. Zabel is the best guy on the board when they pick. They can get edge next year and dt is deep. Interior oline sucks this year. That’s why the prices are so high in free agency.
1) Zeitler is STRICTLY a RG
2) Zeitler’s wife has made Instagram post alluding to a Lions return
Will he rip the eagles again? Sorry CJ but no one wants a me type player
Our QB is literally a me type player but sure lol
Slay back to the eagles now?
Are they going to pay the original contract before they cut him? Lol
Why would he go back?
He has already said he’d be open to returning to Philly on a lower deal
Lot of faith in the coaching, see if they can turn this guy around like they did Becton. So 2.8M is a nice low number for a starting guard.
Now they will need to replace CJ with Brown or a Rookie?
Stroud took the 2nd most sacks last year. You could argue 1.) the O-Line wasn’t good and therefore time to rebuild. 2.) Texans want to get Stroud closer to the David Carr sack numbers
@rich. Definitely feels like a step back. Also not a good year to revamp the whole line.
is Howie going to make any additions?? our defense has been gutted. I know there’s a long way to go, but at the same time all the good talent is being scooped up
Gutted ? Resigning Baun was the key defensive sign…. So far. In Philly it’s not who you lost it’s when will Howie replace with the upgrade.
Given that this is a lopsided trade, that usually means something bad went down behind the scenes we’ll never know about
Give it 5 minutes and I’m sure CJ will let you know about it on Instagram
Agree, this kid was drafted to high for Texas to give up on him for the well traveled and oft injured Johnson. No doubt Stout will turn him into a pro bowler , but sad that Texas got ripped off by Howie.