T'Vondre Sweat, Titans
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Former Tennessee Titans defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat trying to make a play during an NFL game against the Cleveland Browns.
The New York Jets are still receiving flowers.
ESPN’s Seth Walder recently ranked the best signings and trades of the 2026 offseason. The Jets’ deal with the Tennessee Titans cracked the list.
Before the new league year kicked off, the Jets flipped pass rusher Jermaine Johnson in a player-for-player swap with Tennessee for nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat.
Walder explained why it was one of the best trades of the offseason and why it deserved an “A-” grade.
“For all their faults, the Jets came out of last year’s trade deadline with two of the very best deals in that period. While hardly on the same scale, they kicked off the 2026 trade season with another shrewd move in swapping out Johnson for Sweat in a one-for-one swap,” Walder wrote.
“Sweat, a 2024 second-round pick, has been a solid starting nose tackle for Tennessee. He should help the Jets’ run defense and provide some pass rush from the nose. While his 6.5% pass rush win rate at defensive tackle is below average for the position, it’s not bad considering where he lines up. He’ll join a Jets interior group that includes Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs,” Walder added.
“Johnson is playing on his fifth-year option and will cost Tennessee $13.4 million, per OverTheCap. By contrast, Sweat has two years left on his rookie deal and will cost the Jets just $1.6 and $2.1 million in each of those years, respectively. Sweat is also younger and, in my view, has a better chance to be a plus contributor than Johnson. That makes this deal well worth it for New York, especially considering the Jets will get a player with another year of team control for less money,” Walder concluded.
Insiders Add Needed Additional Context
Everything Walder wrote is true, but it goes beyond that.
According to NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY, there was a “zero percent chance” that the Jets were going to extend Johnson next offseason when he was set to be a free agent.
The feeling was mutual. Johnson quietly asked for a change of scenery behind the scenes.
So the Jets were able to save some serious cap, trade away a player they had no intentions of keeping, and in exchange get a valuable young player at a position of need.
Paul Andrew Esden Jr
Oof what really went down behind the scenes in the Jermaine Johnson #Jets trade talks caught me by surprise.
“The Jets, I’m told, had zero inclination and there was a ‘zero chance’ that the Jets were going to re-sign Jermaine Johnson. While they did have an opportunity to trade
Inherent Risk for the Jets
Sweat is a talented player. The 24-year-old was a top-38 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
However, he has a slew of issues, which is why he was available in the first place.
I was told by a Tennessee Insider on “Boy Green Daily” that the former Texas product approached 400 pounds during his tenure with the Titans. He has battled weight issues dating back to college.
There have been legitimate questions about his passion for the game and his work ethic. Those issues were confirmed to me by a Titans beat reporter on “Boy Green Daily.”
The good news is the Jets are somewhat insulated at the position. They expect Sweat to make an impact, but there are other talented players in the room.
On top of Phillips and Briggs, the Jets also signed veteran David Onyemata to a one-year deal. Including those folks with Sweat provides the Jets with at least four strong interior defensive line options.
The green and white could still add to that group during the 2026 NFL draft. In a little under a year, the Jets have turned a weakness into a strength with their overhaul of the defensive tackle position.