Jets trade odds for Jermaine Johnson just dropped even lower

The New York Jets aren’t a very good football team. That much is clear. There’s only a small handful of players on the roster who truly hold any trade value. One of those guys is Jermaine Johnson, and given the Jets' current role as “sellers” on the market, he’s been rumored in potential trades.

One rumored landing spot for Johnson was Philadelphia, but that now seems off the table. The Eagles just acquired edge rusher Jaelan Phillips from the Dolphins for a third-round pick, making it unlikely Johnson will be swapping his Gotham Green for whatever odd shade of green Philadelphia claims as its own.

The Eagles utilized the available resources to fill pass-rushing depth elsewhere. Does that mean Johnson couldn’t still be on the move? No. But it largely decreases those odds, which is welcome news for Jets fans who would like to retain him.

The Eagles were smart to look at Jermaine Johnson, but he's safe for now

The Eden Prairie, MN native and Georgia/Florida product is in the midst of his fourth professional season. The Jets selected Johnson with the 22nd overall pick in 2022, and he has remained with the Jets for the entirety of his short career thus far.

He's mostly been a massive success, save for some injury woes. Johnson missed almost all of last year thanks to an Achilles tear and also missed multiple games this season due to an ankle injury.

But make no mistake, when Johnson is on the field, he’s a game-wrecker. After a promising rookie campaign, he broke out in 2023, starting every game and racking up nine sacks, 55 tackles, 31 stops, and 56 total pressures. His 73.7 Pro Football Focus pass-rush grade on 445 pass-rush snaps showed his ability to produce at a high level over a full season.

He didn't just thrive as a pass rusher either. In 296 run-defense snaps that season, he earned an impressive 83.0 PFF run-defense grade. And though it was a small sample size, he garnered a 95.1 pass-coverage grade in the seven snaps he was asked to cover. It was clear that he was becoming one of the more versatile edge defenders the Jets have had in years.

After a lost 2024 season, Johnson started this year on a promising note. Through two games, he posted a 68.6 overall defensive grade and a 69.5 pass-rush grade, showing signs of returning to form.

However, an ankle injury sidelined him for several weeks, halting his momentum. Since returning, he’s appeared in three games, recording five stops, six hurries, and eight total pressures, with his pass-rush grade steadily improving each week

It's not a coincidence that the Jets scored their highest defensive grade in his first two games back. He isn't perfect, and he isn't always dominant, but he's a very impactful player.

The Jets are likely to part ways with some talented players, but it would be wise to hang on to at least a few key pieces. If there’s anyone worth keeping, a young, homegrown player who excels at a premium position and brings valuable versatility should be near the top of that list.

With the Eagles having already addressed their pass-rushing need, Johnson now looks even more likely to stick around. But what do I know? The Jets have surprised me before. And they certainly will again.