The New York Jets are reportedly generating trade interest for a key member of their young core, but they won’t let him go very easily.
According to Connor Hughes of SNY, Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson II is a name that has emerged for “several teams in need of edge help in trade discussions,” but one team involved in those conversations said it would take “a lot” for New York to deal him away.
The Jets are the NFL’s last remaining winless team, falling to 0-6 with a 13-11 loss to the Denver Broncos in London on Sunday. It should be no surprise that other teams are sniffing around to see if they could convince New York to let some of their most valuable players go.
The No. 26 pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Johnson’s career got off to a promising start when he earned a Pro Bowl selection in his sophomore season after recording 55 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, seven passes defended, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception that he returned for a 37-yard touchdown. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to build off that season after a torn Achilles forced him to miss most of the 2024 campaign.
Johnson was active for the first two games of this season before an ankle injury sidelined him for the next three weeks. He returned against the Broncos and recorded five tackles and his first sack of the season. He’s been known for being New York’s emotional leader on defense, and the team had its best performance of the year with a season-low in points allowed.
Johnson is under contract for one more year after the Jets picked up his fifth-year option for the 2026 season. If New York doesn’t plan on signing him to an extension, it could be convinced to trade him away for the right price.