When the Houston Texans acquired CJ Gardner-Johnson in a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles, the organization knew what they were getting: a talented defensive back who is constantly making off-the-field headlines for the wrong reasons.
This will be the fourth consecutive season in which the 27-year-old has changed teams, but that clearly hasn't brought about any changes in his attitude.
Being introduced to the media in a pre-draft press conference, Gardner-Johnson publicly called out Texans wide receiver John Metchie, demanding his jersey number.
Lmao @CGJXXIII wants that 8 off Metch 😂
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) April 22, 2025
“People don’t call me CJ… it either Ceedy or 8. Which Metchie gotta give that up. I’m sorry Metch. I’m sorry.. I love you to death but god..” pic.twitter.com/SrWpbTMqBB
Is this big, groundbreaking drama? No. Is it going to tear the locker room apart? Of course not. But with a guy like Gardner-Johnson, it's also not something to ignore completely.
If "8" wants Metchie's number, that's an issue he should go directly to the 24-year-old wideout about. Stepping into your new team and going public with your demands of someone who has been in town for two years longer than you have is not exactly the kind of team-first move that will win over fans (or teammates).
Even lighthearted comments like this can add up, especially when it's the kind of thing that we can expect to see often from him.
Of course, there's a saying that "winning cures everything" in an NFL locker room. And so far in his career, Gardner-Johnson is usually doing enough to contribute to winning that he's worth the potential headaches. He helped anchor the Eagles' elite secondary in their Super Bowl run, and that 2024 season was probably the best of his career.
At 27 years old, Gardner-Johnson should still be in the prime of his career, and as long as he keeps playing like it he could finally keep himself on the same team for multiple consecutive seasons again.
Of course, if he doesn't then he also won't be long for Houston. His contract doesn't have much guaranteed money left after the trade, and the Texans would save significant cap space by moving him if it were to come down to that.