With the 105th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Saints selected safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson from the University of Florida. With the move, the Saints traded the 116th and 168th picks of the 2019 NFL Draft to the Jets.
Check out the full biography for Chauncey Gardner-Johnson:
COLLEGE CAREER – A solid value in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Gardner-Johnson moved into the starting lineup for Florida as a freshman in 2016 and played a key role in the club’s resurgent defense in 2018, showing impressive ball skills. Opening all 13 games with 12 starts, he posted 71 tackles, four interceptions (two returned for a touchdown), two passes defensed, nine tackles-for-loss and three sacks for a unit that helped the Gators lead the nation in fourth quarter passing efficiency and second in fourth quarter opponent completion percentage. Gardner-Johnson will compete for snaps both in the secondary and on special teams as a rookie in 2019.
2018 – Played in all 13 games and started 12…Totaled 71 tackles, four interceptions (two returned for a touchdown), two passes defensed, nine tackles-for-loss, three sacks and two quarterback hurries…His four picks ranked tied for 16th in the country and tied for second in the Southeastern Conference…Tallied a career-high two sacks vs. Charleston Southern, Sept. 1…Tallied career-high 11 tackles vs. LSU, Oct. 6…After he snagged two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Michigan, Gardner-Johnson was named Defensive MVP...Also for his efforts he garnered AP All-Bowl Team honors…Notched his other interception returned for a TD on first play of Florida’s win vs. Idaho…Member of a group that helped team lead nation in fourth quarter opponent passing efficiency (66.25) and rank second in fourth quarter opponent completion percentage (40.5).
2017 – Played and started in all 11 games at S…Totaled 58 tackles, two interceptions, seven passes defensed, six tackles-for-loss and a sack…Recorded his interceptions against South Carolina (Nov. 11) and UAB (Nov. 18) in back-to-back weeks...Ranked third on the team behind Marco Wilson (10) and Duke Dawson (9) in passes defended and second on the team in tackles behind David Reese (102)…Played safety all season following an injury to Marcell Harris during preseason.
2016 – Appeared in all 13 games and started Florida’s final three contests against FSU, Alabama and Iowa…Began the season as a reserve defensive back, but ended Florida’s season as one its starting safeties…Led the Gators with eight special teams tackles, as he was a key member on special teams throughout the season…Totaled 32 tackles, three passes defensed, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and a half tackle-for-loss…His three interceptions tied with Quincy Wilson for the second most on the team…Grabbed his first-career interception at Florida State, while making his first-career start…Tallied nine tackles against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game…Recorded two tackles and two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) in the Outback Bowl vs. Iowa…Tallied the first multi-interception game by a Florida freshman since Nov. 13, 2004 when Kyle Jackson had two picks against South Carolina…Named the Outback Bowl MVP for his standout performance as he joined two-way standout Dave Hudson (1958 Gator Bowl), Tony Lilly (1983 Gator) and Ahmad Black (2011 Outback) as the only UF defensive backs to be named a bowl MVP…Became the second true freshman in program history to win a Bowl MVP Award, joining Emmitt Smith (1987)…Named to ESPN’s, Sports Illustrated’s and the AP’s All-Bowl Team.
PERSONAL - Played in the 2016 Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando, Fla. and was named to USA Today’s All-Florida first team...Led Cocoa (Fla.) HS to a 10-3 record and reached the 4A state semifinals in his senior year when he finished with 55 tackles, four sacks and two picks, while also running for six touchdowns and catching five touchdowns…Was a three-sport high school star in football, basketball and track and field…Named the Class 2A Florida Dairy Farmers Track and Field Athlete of the Year in 2015, excelling in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash.
With the 105th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints selected Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson celebrates after a play during a spring football intrasquad game, Saturday, April 14, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson poses for a headshot during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Saturday, Mar. 2, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine on Monday, March 4, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Monday, March. 4, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson participates in a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Monday, March. 4, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Missouri wide receiver Johnathon Johnson (12) is knocked out of bounds by Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (23) after catching a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (23) sacks Charleston Southern quarterback London Johnson during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (23) sets up for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. Missouri won 38-17. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine on Monday, March 4, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Florida defensive backs Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (23) and Shawn Davis, left, break up a pass intended for South Carolina wide receiver Shi Smith (13) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (23) encourages the crowd in the stands during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Charleston Southern Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (23) makes the catch against Michigan during the second half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, in Atlanta. Florida won 41-15. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (23) leaves the field after an NCAA college football game against Charleston Southern Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. Florida won 53-6. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (23) celebrates on the field after an NCAA college football game against Charleston Southern Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. Florida won 53-6. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
