Another member of the Jets’ 2022 draft class has been traded.
The Jets are trading pass rusher Jermaine Johnson to the Titans in exchange for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, sources told the Daily News. NFL Network for first to report the trade.
The deal cannot be processed until the start of the new league year on March 11.
Johnson, 27, will reunite with former Jets coach Robert Saleh, who became the Titans coach last month. Saleh and former Jets general manager Joe Douglas traded back into the first round in 2022 to select Johnson 26th overall.
Gang Green also selected Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson in the first round. But only Wilson remains on the team after the Jets dealt Gardner in November to the Colts for two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
When the Jets drafted Johnson, they expected him to become a dominant pass rusher, but that never consistently materialized. He recorded just 2.5 sacks as a rookie. Johnson was selected to the Pro Bowl after finishing with 7.5 sacks in 2023.
However, Johnson has not looked the same player in recent years. Two games into the 2024 season, Johnson tore his Achilles on the road against the Titans and missed the rest of that season.
Johnson played in 14 games last season for the Jets. But he finished with 43 tackles and just three sacks after missing three games due to an ankle injury.
With the Jets likely changing their scheme with coach Aaron Glenn now the defensive playcaller, it makes sense they moved on from Johnson. Last season, the Jets primarily used a 4-3 defensive set. But in 2026, with Glenn calling the plays and Brian Duker now the defensive coordinator, they are expected to have more 3-4 formations, which is likely why Johnson was moved.
Also, Johnson is in the final year of his rookie contract after the Jets exercised his fifth-year option last spring. The Jets will save Johnson $13.4 million this season.
