The NFL offseason is officially heating up, and the New York Jets have wasted no time making a seismic move that could reshape their entire defense for years to come. On February 26, 2026, as the NFL Combine buzzed in Indianapolis, the Jets and Tennessee Titans orchestrated one of the most intriguing trades in recent memory: New York sent edge rusher Jermaine Johnson to Tennessee in exchange for nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat. The deal, a rare 1-for-1 swap with no draft picks attached, can't be processed until the new league year opens on March 11 at 4 p.m., but it's already sending ripples through both organizations and the rest of the league.
This trade marks the Jets' first major move of the offseason, and it's a bold one. Johnson, once a prized first-round pick and Pro Bowler, heads to Tennessee to reunite with head coach Robert Saleh—his former boss in New York—while the Jets land one of the NFL's most promising young defensive tackles in Sweat. For fans of both teams, it's a deal loaded with storylines, strategy, and more than a little risk.
Let's break down the details and what this swap means for the future of both franchises.
T'Vondre Sweat: The Jets' New Defensive Centerpiece
New York's acquisition of T'Vondre Sweat signals a dramatic shift in defensive philosophy under head coach Aaron Glenn. The Jets, notorious for their defensive struggles in 2025—allowing 29.6 points and 355.6 yards per game, with just 26 sacks all season—are switching to a 3-4 defensive scheme. That system demands a true anchor in the middle, and at 6-foot-4 and 366 pounds, Sweat fits the bill perfectly. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, "Sweat will become one of the focal points along this revamped defensive line heading into the 2026 season."
Sweat, just 24, was a highly touted prospect coming out of Texas, where he earned All-American honors and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. He was selected 38th overall by the Titans in the 2024 NFL Draft and has already logged 85 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks, two passes defensed, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in his first two seasons. His ability to eat up double teams and generate pressure up the middle is rare for a man of his size, and it's exactly what the Jets need as they fill the void left by the departures of Quinnen Williams and, now, Johnson himself.
"T'Vondre Sweat is absolutely fantastic at both eating space and generating pressure up the middle, which is unusual for a man his size," one analyst noted, echoing the sentiment around league circles that New York landed a gem. Sweat is under contract through 2027, giving the Jets a long-term solution at a critical position.
Jermaine Johnson: A Fresh Start in Tennessee
For Jermaine Johnson, the move to Tennessee is a chance to reboot his career with a familiar face. The 27-year-old pass rusher was the No. 26 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and notched 13 sacks over his first four seasons. His best year came in 2023, when he racked up 7.5 sacks and earned a Pro Bowl nod. But a torn Achilles in 2024 derailed his momentum, and his 2025 campaign saw him tally just three sacks and a 9.3% pressure rate over 14 games. He was pulled from the field on many third-down pass rush situations, raising questions about his fit in Glenn's system.
Now, Johnson will have the chance to rediscover his form in a Titans defense undergoing its own transformation. Tennessee, under new head coach Robert Saleh, is shifting to a 4-3 scheme that de-emphasizes the need for a space-eating nose tackle like Sweat and instead prioritizes edge rushers who can get after the quarterback. Saleh, who originally drafted Johnson, clearly believes he can resurrect the pass rusher's career. Johnson will play the 2026 season on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract and is set to hit free agency in 2027.
Strategic Implications: Draft Day Dominoes
This trade doesn't just impact the players involved—it sets the stage for both teams' draft strategies. The Jets now hold the No. 2 and No. 16 overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, with a gaping hole at edge rusher and a newly fortified interior. All signs point to New York targeting one of the draft's top EDGE prospects, such as Arvell Reese or Rueben Bain, with their premium pick. As one report put it, "This now opens up New York to do the expected in the draft and take an EDGE with the No. 2 overall pick."
Meanwhile, the Titans, who own the No. 4 selection, have increased flexibility. They could pursue a defensive end to fit their new 4-3 front, trade down for more draft capital, or even target a player like Keldric Faulk or Peter Woods to fill the void left by Sweat. The deal is seen as a calculated risk: Tennessee gets a potential starter at a position of need, but some analysts argue they could have squeezed a draft pick out of the Jets as well.
How Did We Get Here?
The trade is the latest in a series of bold moves by Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, who has been reshaping the roster since his arrival. Last season, New York dealt away stars Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, and Glenn recently fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, replacing him with Brian Duker. The defense's struggles in 2025 made such changes inevitable. As Sports Illustrated observed, "They need change, and they know it."
For the Titans, the decision to move Sweat was largely about scheme fit. With Saleh's arrival and the shift to a 4-3 defense, Tennessee no longer needed a massive nose tackle in the middle. Instead, they prioritized adding a bigger pass-rusher on the edge—hence, Johnson's arrival.
What the Numbers Say
Both players bring impressive resumes. Sweat, over two seasons, has 85 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks, and a reputation as one of the NFL's better young nose tackles, despite playing on a struggling Titans team. Johnson, though less consistent, still boasts 13 career sacks and the pedigree of a first-round pick.
Salary cap implications are also notable. Sweat is under contract through 2027, while Johnson's deal runs through 2026 before he hits free agency. The Jets, by getting younger and locking up a key position, are seen by many as the winners of this trade. "The bottom line: The Jets won this one. They're getting younger, and ideally better, across the defensive line while opening up their rebuild options for another offseason," wrote a Sports Illustrated contributor.
Looking Ahead
With the trade set to become official in just a couple weeks, anticipation is building. Jets fans will be eager to see if Sweat can fill the void left by Quinnen Williams and anchor a defense desperate for improvement. Titans supporters, meanwhile, will watch closely to see if Johnson can recapture his 2023 form and help spark a turnaround in Nashville.
One thing's for sure: with the NFL Draft looming and both teams in the midst of major transitions, this trade is just the beginning of an offseason packed with intrigue. The Jets and Titans have made their moves—now it's time to see who capitalizes best as the next domino falls.