The New York Jets have made the first big move of the 2026 offseason. They sent 2022 first-round pass rusher Jermaine Johnson to the Tennessee Titans for nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
This move is a surprising one, as it's a rare player-for-player swap, while also sending one of the best defenders from the Jets to a new team.
After such a move, it's fair to wonder why the Jets made this trade. According to Connor Hughes of SNY, Aaron Glenn's change for 2026 is a huge reason why Johnson is now with the Titans.
Why did Jermaine Johnson get traded from Jets to Titans?
"While the Jets will deploy a versatile defense, the base, I'm told, will have a lot of 3-4 principles," Hughes reports. "That made Johnson expendable - he's a 4-3 DE."
Johnson didn't fit the scheme of the Jets' defense, which is changing in 2026 with Glenn taking over play-calling duties.
Moving on from Johnson allows for one of the 3-4 edge defender spots to open up, which gives the Jets runway to land a new pass rusher either in the draft or free agency.
Picking No. 2 overall, the Jets will have their pick of the litter when it comes to the top pass rushers. David Bailey or Arvell Reese are two top options, and there are plenty of decent options down the board as well.
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But as Hughes notes, the Jets and Glenn can go after a deep edge rusher class in free agency as well. And add on the acquisition of Sweat — a solid, young, interior defender who can make up for the loss of Quinnen Williams — and this trade makes a lot of sense.
Not to mention that Johnson is in the final year of his rookie deal, and Sweat has two more years of control left. The Jets are getting younger by adding the 24-year-old NT and moving off the 27-year-old edge rusher.
Along with getting younger, the Jets are saving money, gaining more control, setting themselves up for a better free agent class at edge rusher and, most importantly, moving on from a player who wasn't a scheme fit for a young nose tackle.
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