The NFL offseason just got a jolt of electricity as the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans agreed to a rare player-for-player swap that could reshape both teams’ defensive identities. On February 26, 2026, multiple sources confirmed the Jets are sending edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II to the Titans in exchange for nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat. The trade is set to become official on March 11, when the new league year kicks off, but the ripple effects are already being felt across the league.
This move marks a new chapter for both franchises. For the Jets, it’s the latest in a series of bold maneuvers aimed at rebuilding a defense that was once among the league’s most formidable. Their recent trades of stars Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams netted them a treasure trove of draft capital, including three first-round picks. For the Titans, the deal is all about reuniting head coach Robert Saleh with one of his most trusted former players and shoring up a pass rush that desperately needed a boost.
Jermaine Johnson’s journey with the Jets began when he was selected 26th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, a pick made under then-head coach Robert Saleh. Johnson quickly established himself as a difference-maker, racking up 10 sacks over his first two seasons and earning Pro Bowl honors in 2023 after posting a career-best 7.5 sacks. But football can be cruel, and Johnson’s momentum was derailed by a torn Achilles just two games into the 2024 season. Though he fought his way back onto the field in 2025, his production dipped—he finished with just three sacks and 43 tackles in 14 games, a far cry from his Pro Bowl peak.
“New York, thank you for everything truly. 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!!” Johnson wrote in a heartfelt social media post after news of the trade broke, according to ESPN.
Johnson’s reunion with Saleh in Tennessee is a storyline in itself. Saleh, now the Titans’ head coach after replacing Brian Callahan, will also have former Jets defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton by his side. The trio’s familiarity could help Johnson rediscover the form that made him a Pro Bowler, though his Achilles injury and recent struggles can’t be ignored. In four seasons and 47 games, Johnson has amassed 131 tackles, 27 quarterback hits, and 13 sacks. His 2025 pressure rate, however, was just 9.5%, ranking 110th out of 184 pass rushers with at least 200 attempts—a sign that he’s still working his way back from injury.
The Titans’ need for pass rush help is glaring. After Jeffery Simmons’ 11 sacks last season, no other Titan managed more than five. With Jihad Ward entering free agency and Dre’Mont Jones traded to Baltimore midseason, Tennessee’s defensive front was in need of fresh talent. If Johnson can recapture his 2023 explosiveness, he could be the disruptive force the Titans crave alongside Simmons. But that’s a big “if,” and the Titans are taking on a significant financial commitment—Johnson is set to make $13.4 million in 2026, the final year of his rookie deal’s fifth-year option.
On the other side of the deal, the Jets are betting big on T’Vondre Sweat, a 24-year-old, 6-foot-4, 366-pound mountain of a man who specializes in clogging running lanes. Sweat was a second-round pick by the Titans in 2024 and has quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier run-stuffers. In his first two seasons, he racked up 85 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery across 29 games. Pro Football Focus rated him as the fifth-best interior defensive lineman and the fourth-best against the run in 2025—a testament to his impact in the trenches.
Sweat’s contract situation is another win for the Jets. He’s signed through 2027 and will count just $1.66 million against the cap in 2026, making him a much more cost-effective option than Johnson. After the trade, the Jets’ cap space balloons to an estimated $91.1 million, per Over The Cap, giving them plenty of flexibility to continue their rebuild.
For New York, the move is about more than just finances. The Jets’ run defense was gashed for 2,371 rushing yards last season, the fourth-most in the NFL. Sweat’s ability to anchor the middle should help address that glaring weakness, especially after the departure of Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys in November. The Jets appear poised to shift to more 3-4 defensive fronts, and Sweat’s size and skill set are a perfect fit for that scheme.
“Sweat is a big, big man—but he’s more than just heft in the middle,” wrote Zach Pereles of CBS Sports. “Pro Football Focus rated him as the fifth-best interior defensive lineman in the NFL and the fourth-best against the run in 2025. Though he’s not as much of a pass rusher as his now-former fellow Titans interior defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, he’s not a complete zero there, either.”
The Jets’ defensive line now features a promising mix of veterans and young talent. Harrison Phillips brings experience, while Jowon Briggs—acquired last summer—has impressed with his development. With the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jets are widely expected to target a dynamic edge rusher to pair with Will McDonald IV. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Texas Tech’s David Bailey are among the leading candidates, and New York also holds the No. 16, No. 33, and No. 44 picks, giving them ample opportunity to reload on both sides of the ball.
The Titans, meanwhile, maintain the No. 4 pick in the upcoming draft and boast nearly $100 million in effective cap space. They could still add another pass rusher or defensive back, or bolster quarterback Cam Ward’s supporting cast. Saleh has wasted no time reshaping Tennessee’s identity, bringing in familiar faces and making bold personnel decisions in his first weeks at the helm.
Notably, the trade is part of a broader trend for the Jets, who have now parted ways with eight of their 11 first-round picks from 2015 to 2022. The team’s front office, led by general manager Darren Mougey, is clearly committed to a youth movement and a fresh start after a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw the defense gutted and the run game exposed.
As for what’s next? The Jets still have plenty of moves to make. Locking up running back Breece Hall is a priority, and the fate of quarterback Justin Fields remains uncertain—he could be cut, traded, or retained as a backup. With so much cap space and draft capital, the Jets are expected to be aggressive in both free agency and the draft, aiming to turn their recent teardown into a rapid rebuild.
With the player-for-player trade between the Jets and Titans set to become official on March 11, all eyes are on how both franchises will capitalize on their new assets. For now, the NFL world waits to see if Jermaine Johnson can rediscover his Pro Bowl form in Tennessee and whether T’Vondre Sweat can plug the gaping holes in New York’s run defense. One thing’s for sure—the offseason drama is just getting started.