ScoutIndex

BUF BUF

C.J. Gardner-Johnson

SAF

Drafted 105th overall in the 4th round of the 2019 draft, C.J. Gardner-Johnson arrived from Florida. Now with BUF, he's in his 8th NFL season. By ScoutIndex Rating he was one of the top DEFs in football last season, scoring a 70.3 (90th percentile).

Size

5'11", 208#

College

Florida

Draft

Rd 4, 105th overall (2019)

Seasons

2019–2026

2020 ScoutIndex Rating · DEF

Methodology
69.9

90th percentile among DEFs

15 games

Splash plays×0.15-0.44
Pass rush×0.3+0.21
Ball skills×0.25+2.01
Run defense×0.2+1.06
Availability×0.1+1.17

Career (regular season)

SeasonTmSIGPass ydsPass TDRush ydsRush TDRecRec ydsRec TD
2026BUF516
2025HOU70.313
2024PHI75.316
2023DET60.73
2022PHI77.212
2021NO72.712
2020NO69.915
2019NO62.416

Career profile

Across 8 NFL seasons on file, C.J. Gardner-Johnson has played in 93 regular-season games, playing for 6 teams: NO (2019–2021), PHI (2022), DET (2023), PHI (2024), HOU (2025), BUF (2026).

By the ScoutIndex Rating, his best qualified season was 2022: a 77.2, in the 94th percentile among DEFs that year.

2020 splits

regular season

2020 game log

WkOppLineScore
PostseasonCHI——
PostseasonTB——
Week 1TB—54.1
Week 2LV—39.9
Week 3GB—42.5
Week 4DET—42.2
Week 5LAC—40.9
Week 7CAR—51.6
Week 8CHI—80.9
Week 9TB—40.8
Week 10SF—99
Week 11ATL—57.8
Week 12DEN—68.3
Week 13ATL—49.2
Week 14PHI—69.3
Week 15KC—69.1
Week 16MIN—50.3

C.J. Gardner-Johnson — common questions

What position does C.J. Gardner-Johnson play?
C.J. Gardner-Johnson is listed as an SAF.
Which teams has C.J. Gardner-Johnson played for?
In the seasons on file (1999 onward), C.J. Gardner-Johnson has played for NO (2019–2021), PHI (2022), DET (2023), PHI (2024), HOU (2025), BUF (2026).
Where did C.J. Gardner-Johnson go to college?
C.J. Gardner-Johnson played college football at Florida.
When was C.J. Gardner-Johnson drafted?
C.J. Gardner-Johnson was selected in round 4, 105th overall, of the 2019 NFL Draft.
How many touchdowns has C.J. Gardner-Johnson scored?
C.J. Gardner-Johnson has no rushing, receiving or passing touchdowns in the regular-season games on file.
What is C.J. Gardner-Johnson's ScoutIndex Rating?
C.J. Gardner-Johnson rated 51.0 for 2026, the 61st percentile among DEFs (provisional or limited sample). Ratings run 0–99; about 60 is a league-average qualified starter.

Related players

Top teammates, last season on file

Drafted in round 4, 2019

Also from Florida