Jermaine Johnson Trade Reorients Jets' Defense and Reunites Pass Rusher With Former Coach

The trade of Jermaine Johnson from the New York Jets to the Tennessee Titans — exchanged for defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat — immediately shifts who feels pressure in the AFC East and who gains internal depth. The Jets gain interior size while opening room to lean on a draft-heavy rebuild; the Titans add a pass rusher who will reunite with a familiar head coach. Final paperwork cannot be completed until the new NFL year begins on March 11.

Immediate impact: AFC East competitors and roster winners

For division rivals, this is another ledger entry in a wider Jets teardown that has already included high-profile departures. The Jets previously moved All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys before the trade deadline. That sequence makes the Johnson-to-Titans swap feel like part of an intentional reset rather than an isolated deal.

Jermaine Johnson lands in Tennessee; timing and confirmation

Adam Schefter shared that the New York Jets are sending edge rusher Jermaine Johnson to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat. Teams must wait until the new NFL year officially starts on March 11 to finalize the deal.

Player snapshots: recent form and what each team gets

• Jermaine Johnson: Pro Bowl selection in 2023 with 7. 5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, a forced fumble and a pick-six. He tore his Achilles tendon two games into the 2024 campaign, later returned to play 14 games last season, and recorded three sacks and six quarterback hits after the comeback. He earned a 61 overall grade that ranked 78th among 115 qualified defensive ends on a widely used player-grade metric.
• T'Vondre Sweat: A 366-pound defensive tackle who posted 34 tackles and two sacks for Tennessee last season, bringing interior mass and run-stopping chops to the Jets' front.

How this changes draft strategy and roster construction

The Jets now hold a dozen picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, including the No. 2 and No. 16 overall selections. Moving Jermaine Johnson out could foreshadow a primary draft target at No. 2 — specifically an edge rusher — with names floated as possibilities including David Bailey from Texas Tech, Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami and Arvell Reese from Ohio State. On the other side, Tennessee bolsters its pass-rush options while restoring a link to the coaching staff that originally oversaw Johnson.

Coach reunion and organizational context

Johnson will reunite with former Jets head coach Robert Saleh in Tennessee; the Titans hired Saleh as their new head coach after going 3-14 in 2025. That existing relationship is a clear non-football advantage for the Titans as they integrate Johnson into their scheme and locker room culture.

Here's the part that matters: the deal is transactional now but could reshape draft priorities, defensive alignments and short-term win expectations for both franchises.

• Jets roster effect: Add interior defensive weight and create cap/roster room to draft or sign impact pieces.
• Titans roster effect: Gain an edge rusher familiar with the incoming head coach's system.
• Timing signal: The trade relies on the new NFL year (March 11) for finalization — until then, public rosters and official contract records remain unchanged.
• Performance caveat: Johnson's Achilles history and post-injury production will be central to how quickly Tennessee expects returns on the move.

Image note and adjacent items

Oct 19, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA — New York Jets linebacker Jermaine Johnson celebrates a defensive stop in the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at MetLife Stadium. (Image credit redacted in the provided context. ) An adjacent item carried the headline "429 Too Many Requests. "

Andrew Gould is described in the context as a long-time sports writer and fantasy baseball aficionado and is noted to be a New York/New Jersey native who promises not to bring up David Tyree too often. More NFL coverage in the material included the headline: Veteran Pro Bowler Called 'Perfect' Fit for Patriots In Free Agency.

It's easy to overlook, but the real test will be how quickly both teams convert this roster shuffle into on-field performance and clearer draft direction.