Jets trade Jermaine Johnson to Titans in swap for T'Vondre Sweat
The New York Jets are sending edge rusher jermaine johnson to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat, a deal that cannot be finalized until the new NFL year begins on March 11. The move comes after a season of injuries and an ongoing teardown of the Jets' defense that will influence their approach to the 2026 NFL Draft.
Trade terms, timing and the voice on the report
Adam Schefter said the Jets will send jermaine johnson to the Tennessee Titans for T'Vondre Sweat. Team officials must wait until the new league year officially starts on March 11 to complete the transaction.
Jermaine Johnson's injury history and Pro Bowl peak
Johnson broke out in 2023, making the Pro Bowl after compiling 7. 5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, a forced fumble and a pick-six. He tore his Achilles tendon two games into the 2024 campaign and, while he returned to play 14 games last season, he did not produce the same impact he did during his Pro Bowl year.
Early career numbers and grading
The 2022 first-round pick notched three sacks and six quarterback hits in the season following his injury. He received a 61 overall grade that ranked 78th among 115 qualified defensive ends on a major grading service.
Jets' recent defensive dismantling and draft windfall
Johnson watched the Jets trade away key defensive pieces during the season: All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner was sent to the Indianapolis Colts and star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams was dealt to the Dallas Cowboys before the trade deadline. New York now holds a dozen selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, including the No. 2 and No. 16 overall picks, a haul that could shape how the team replaces edge production.
Draft implications and potential targets
Moving Johnson could foreshadow the Jets taking an edge rusher at No. 2 overall. Names floated as potential fits for that selection include Texas Tech's David Bailey, Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. and Ohio State's Arvell Reese, any of whom could be considered when the Jets use their high pick.
T'Vondre Sweat's profile and the Titans connection
The Jets add a defensive interior presence in T'Vondre Sweat, a 366-pounder who tallied 34 tackles and two sacks for Tennessee last season. Meanwhile, Johnson will reunite with former Jets head coach Robert Saleh in Tennessee; Saleh was hired as the Titans' new head coach after the team went 3-14 in 2025.
Image and moment captured at MetLife Stadium
On Oct. 19, 2025, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, New York Jets linebacker Jermaine Johnson celebrated a defensive stop in the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at MetLife Stadium. The photo is credited to Vincent Carchietta.
Reporting note and related coverage
Andrew Gould is a long-time sports writer and fantasy baseball aficionado. He is a New York/New Jersey native and has joked that he promises not to bring up David Tyree too often. Additional coverage referenced a separate piece titled: "More NFL: Veteran Pro Bowler Called 'Perfect' Fit for Patriots In Free Agency. "
