The Buffalo Bills have added yet another outside defensive free agent, agreeing to terms with safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson on a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, his agents told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
Gardner-Johnson, 28, becomes Buffalo’s third outside defensive free agent signing this week, joining pass rusher Bradley Chubb and cornerback Dee Alford. The Bills are building the team’s defense under new coordinator Jim Leonhard, shifting from former head coach Sean McDermott’s scheme of the past nine seasons.
Safety was among the positions of need for the Bills, who have not re-signed any of their outgoing free agents at the position — Jordan Poyer, Damar Hamlin and Darnell Savage. Taylor Rapp, a Week 1 starter last season, was cut in a cap-saving move ahead of the new league year.
Gardner-Johnson appears likely to have the opportunity to compete for the starting job alongside Cole Bishop, a starter last season and the team’s only locked-in player at safety. Bishop is going into his third season and played alongside a rotating door of players last year, largely due to injuries.