Jets' Jermaine Johnson putting up worse numbers than Micheal Clemons is concerning

The New York Jets decided not to give in to teams who wanted to part with a Day 2 pick at the 2025 NFL trade deadline and chose to retain pass rusher Jermaine Johnson for the long haul. Given Johnson's passion for football and emotional leadership, the move seemed like an obvious one.

However, Darren Mougey's decision to hold onto one of the many Robert Saleh leftovers on this roster is turning out to be a mistake. Johnson has just three sacks on the season, and he isn't one of those players who can pressure the quarterback without compiling tons of takedowns.

Johnson is obviously having a bad season, but his performances in recent weeks have been so bad that he may actually be playing worse than backup defensive end Micheal Clemons. Clemons is actually starting to emerge as a better pass rusher than Johnson.

Since Week 12, when the Jets lost against the Baltimore Ravens, Johnson ranks 100th out of 108 qualified players in pressure rate at just 64% of his snaps. Clemons, for all his faults, ranks 92nd. Harrison Phillips is dead last, while Jowon Briggs and Will McDonald rank 48th and 45th, respectively.

Jets DE Jermaine Johnson has struggled this season

Johnson is not the only red flag on this list. Phillips at least makes up for his production by being a tremendous run-stuffer, and Briggs has been a tremendous addition for the future. However, McDonald's pressure rate isn't high enough to justify his pathetic run defense, and Clemons remains as milquetoast as ever.

Johnson, however, is producing at an alarmingly low level. Even if he was never going to be a great pure pass rusher and derived value from his ability to set the edge, getting three sacks all season long and barely any pressures is simply not sustainable.

The only possible explanation Johnson can lean on for this poor season is his Achilles injury from last year, as it often takes pass rushers some time to get back on track. 2026 will be the make-or-break year for the former Pro Bowler, as another down season will bring an end to his Jets tenure.

Expect the Jets to not only add some competition for Johnson in free agency but also use one of their four top-50 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. If Johnson can't get his feet back under him after this nightmare season, it might be curtains for him in New York.