News broke yesterday that the Buffalo Bills were signing defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, per Tom Pelissero, and it was a move that fans should be really excited for. At only 28 years old, Gardner-Johnson is a perfect fit for this new-look Bills defense as he brings a ton of intensity and a great amount of playoff and Super Bowl experience.
The Bills needed to find a running mate with Cole Bishop as they released Taylor Rapp before free agency and lost Cam Lewis to the Chicago Bears. With Gardner-Johnson coming to Buffalo on just a one-year deal, the Bills will get the chance for him to thrive on a prove-it deal.
Not only does this signing fill a need for Buffalo, but it also should pay off big time for Cole Bishop, who took a nice step forward in 2025 when he was playing alongside Jordan Poyer.
Cole Bishop gets prime opportunity to thrive even more with C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Coming into last season, there were doubters about Bishop as he was coming off an up-and-down rookie season. While he had some moments of potential, he also dealt with some early injuries and his play was inconsistent. Even last season, there were times where fans threw their hands up in disbelief because Bishop either did or didn’t do.
However, once Jordan Poyer stepped in as the starter when Taylor Rapp went down with a knee injury, fans saw a different type of Bishop for the better. Bishop read the offense better and was better with his placement of where the ball was going. He also delivered some hard hits that would help set the tone of the defense.
Now, Bishop gets a teammate that has shown to be a ballhawk, but now he gets someone that will bring a ton of intensity. There is no question that Gardner-Johnson is someone who flies around and can deliver a crushing hit.
Bishop is entering his third season of his career and it’s going to be an important one as it could define whether or not Buffalo extends him. The Bills already gave Bishop a great first mentor at safety with Poyer. Now they give him Gardner-Johnson who is going to add that intensity to the secondary.
If Bishop can implement that consistent intensity in his game, he is going to thrive in Jim Leonhard’s defense and become one of the best safeties in the game.