The New England Patriots found plenty of success in their first year under the guidance of Mike Vrabel. After making an unexpected Super Bowl run in 2025, New England retooled the roster through free agency, including signing Romeo Doubs, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Dre'Mont Jones, and Kevin Byard.
While those moves got the fanbase excited, the Buffalo Bills' additions in free agency were something Patriots supporters kept an eye on. And they can't be too happy with Buffalo signing safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to a one-year, $3.5 million contract. It's a low-cost deal but could have a positive impact on their roster.
Patriots Have to Be Annoyed with Bills Signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Last season didn't begin on the right foot for Gardner-Johnson, after being released by the Texans in September. He was ultimately picked up by the Bears the following month, where he provided the secondary with a spark. Gardner-Johnson lined up in the slot and at safety for that team, where he made some key plays for Chicago on its way to an NFC North division title.
In 10 games (seven starts), Gardner-Johnson had 51 total tackles, five TFLs, four pass deflections, three sacks, and two interceptions. He did leave room to be desired in coverage, allowing 36 catches for 356 receiving yards and three scores, but that doesn't mean he can recapture some of the success he had the year prior. In 2024, as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Gardner-Johnson had 59 total tackles, 12 pass deflections, and six interceptions. According to the Pro Football Focus grading system, he had a 75.1 overall mark (15th among 97 eligible safeties) and an 81.3 coverage mark (8th among 97 eligible safeties).
The Bills are taking a chance on a player who has found success in the league and signed him for pennies on the dollar. For a Patriots team looking to win the division for the second straight year, the last thing fans in New England want to see is Buffalo improving in areas that were a weakness last season. In two games against the Bills last season, Drake Maye was 36-of-53 (67%) for 428 yards, zero passing touchdowns, and one interception. Even though his numbers aren't earth-shattering, Maye was able to take his shots against his secondary, coming away with a 23-20 win on the road in a primetime affair on Sunday Night Football.
In the victory, Maye had some impressive completions. He was seen drifting right to buy time from the pressure and uncorked a pass down the right sideline (14.5 MPH) to Stefon Diggs, who caught that ball between a corner and safety for a 32-yard gain. The completion probability on that pass was just 24.3 percent.
In the same outing, when the pressure was at its highest, Maye delivered. With 1:25 left in the 4th quarter, the 23-year-old threw a laser to Kayshon Boutte for a 19-yard completion. It was a hole shot between the corner and safety down the right sideline, but it had to be thrown with timing and precision for it to be caught. That pass was given a 47 percent completion probability.
While the addition of Gardner-Johnson won't deter Maye from making plays like that against Buffalo again, it may be a bit more difficult with an instinctive defender on the backend in a defense now led by Jim Leonhard. Buffalo is undoubtedly New England's biggest threat within the division, and the Patriots don't want to see the Bills get better in any facet.