The New York Jets have agreed to trade pass rusher Jermaine Johnson to the Tennessee Titans for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade, a player-for-player swap of starters, cannot become official until the start of the NFL’s new league year on March 11. ESPN and NFL Network first reported the deal.
Johnson, who turned 27 last month, will be reunited with Robert Saleh, who was hired as head coach of the Titans last month but held the same role for the Jets when they selected the 6-foot-5, 254-pound defensive end in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft with the 22nd overall pick.
Johnson — who played his final college season at Florida State in 2021 after two at Georgia and two before that at Independence (Kansas) Community College — will also be back with defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, who was his position coach with the Jets his first three seasons.
“New York, thank you for everything truly,” Johnson wrote on his X social media account. “The love I’ve been shown here for the past 4-5 years has been nothing short of amazing, both on and off the field. Y’all will always hold a special place in my heart. Wish all of my former coaches and former teammates the best!! Thank all of y’all for sharing a battlefield with me.”
He closed with: “11 out,” referring to his jersey number with the Jets, and added a salute emoji.
Sweat was a second-round selection of the Titans out of Texas in 2024. The 6-4, 366-pound, run-stuffing presence should help anchor a defensive line that includes tackles Jowon Briggs and Harrison Phillip as well as edge rusher Will McDonald.
Sweat, who was drafted in the second round and 38th overall by the Titans two years ago, had three sacks and 85 total tackles in 29 games (28 starts) for the Nashville franchise. The 24-year-old nose tackle incurred an ankle injury in Tennessee’s season opener against the Denver Broncos last September and landed on injured reserve, though he returned after missing five games and was an effective contributor for the Titans.
The trade of Johnson leaves the Jets with just one of their first-round picks from 2022: receiver Garrett Wilson, the No. 10 pick of that year’s draft. Two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner, the fourth overall pick in 2022, was traded to Indianapolis this past November.
The deal also puts the Jets in position to potentially take the best pass rusher in the draft in April — possibly Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, Texas Tech’s David Bailey or Miami’s Reuben Bain — with the No. 2 overall selection as coach Aaron Glenn tries to improve a defense that was among the NFL’s worst during a 3-14 season.
Glenn fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks with three games remaining and hired Brian Duker last month to replace him. Glenn confirmed Tuesday at the NFL combine that he will call the plays on defense next season.
Johnson was set to play next season on his fifth-year rookie option, but the move will save the Jets $13.4 million on the salary cap, and he could become a free agent after the 2026 season. Considered a rising star during his first few years with the Jets, which included a Pro Bowl selection in 2023, Johnson had just three sacks last season after tearing his right Achilles tendon in the second game of 2024.
In his 47 games with the Jets, he compiled 13 sacks, returned an interception for a touchdown, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Johnson, who had a career-high 7 1/2 sacks in 2023, will now be expected to provide a pass-rushing threat for Saleh’s defense in Tennessee.