The San Francisco 49ers have lost several key players in their defensive front due to injuries, including Nick Bosa (torn ACL), Mykel Williams (torn ACL) and Yetur Gross-Matos (on injured reserve with hamstring injury).
With that said, they could’ve used help at this year’s trade deadline in the form of an impact veteran, and the team reportedly had the chance to make a move to improve their pass rush.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the 49ers were one of the teams that attempted to acquire Jermaine Johnson II from the New York Jets, but they declined to pull the trigger due to New York’s asking price of a second-round pick.
Johnson, 26, played collegiately at Independence Community College (2017-18), Georgia (2019-20) and Florida State (2021), earning All-American honors with the Seminoles before the Jets took him in the first round (No. 26 overall) in the 2022 NFL draft.
In his first four seasons (including a 2024 campaign that was shortened to just two games due to a torn Achilles), Johnson has recorded 107 tackles (16 for a loss), 23 quarter back hits, 11 sacks, eight passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovered and one interception.
Johnson has one more year remaining on his contract (a fifth-year option currently set to be for $13.41 million), and a trade to San Francisco would’ve paired him with his former head coach Robert Saleh, who is serving as the 49ers defensive coordinator.
Now, San Francisco will have Bryce Huff (week-to-week with an injury), Keion White, Sam Okuayinonu and Robert Beal Jr. on the active roster to rush from the edge. They also have Clelin Ferrell and William Bradley-King on the practice squad who could help, but the room isn’t getting any major reinforcements for the rest of the year.
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