A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that the New York Jets have reached an agreement to send defensive end Jermaine Johnson to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat.
The individual requested anonymity since this exchange of starting players won’t be finalized until March 11, when the NFL’s new league year officially begins.
Both ESPN and NFL Network initially broke news of the transaction.
This move brings Johnson back together with Titans head coach Robert Saleh, who previously led the Jets when they selected the pass rusher with the 22nd pick in the opening round of the 2022 draft out of Florida State.
Tennessee chose Sweat in the second round of the 2024 draft, selecting the Texas product 38th overall.
With Johnson’s departure, New York now has only one remaining first-round selection from their 2022 draft class: receiver Garrett Wilson, who was picked 10th that year. The Jets previously sent cornerback Sauce Gardner, their fourth overall choice, to Indianapolis this past November.
This transaction positions the Jets to potentially select the draft’s top pass rushing prospect with the second overall pick in April, as new head coach Aaron Glenn works to rebuild a defense that ranked among the league’s worst during a disappointing 3-14 campaign. Glenn dismissed defensive coordinator Steve Wilks before the season ended and brought in Brian Duker as his replacement last month. At this week’s NFL combine, Glenn confirmed he will handle defensive play-calling duties himself next season.
Johnson, now 27, was scheduled to play under his fifth-year rookie contract option and would have entered free agency following the upcoming season. After establishing himself as an emerging talent in his early Jets career, including earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2023, Johnson managed only three sacks last season after suffering a torn right Achilles tendon in the second game of 2024.
During his tenure with New York, Johnson recorded 13 sacks across 47 appearances, returned one interception for a touchdown, forced one fumble and recovered another. Following his career-best 7.5 sack performance in 2023, Johnson will now be tasked with generating pass rush for Saleh’s defensive scheme in Tennessee.
The 6-foot-4, 366-pound Sweat brings run-stopping ability that should help solidify a Jets defensive front that already features tackles Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs along with edge rusher Will McDonald.
Since Tennessee drafted him two years ago, Sweat has accumulated three sacks and 85 total tackles over 29 appearances, starting 28 of those contests. The 24-year-old nose tackle suffered an ankle injury in the Titans’ season opener against Denver, landing on injured reserve before returning after a five-game absence and proving to be a valuable contributor to Tennessee’s defensive line.
