Surprising Jets player is suddenly drawing trade interest from multiple teams

New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey has already made quite a few trades in his short time with the organization, and that number is only expected to climb as we approach the trade deadline next month.

At 0-6, teams are expected to be reaching out to the Jets about multiple players. Breece Hall and Quincy Williams have dominated trade talk, but one surprising name has suddenly emerged.

SNY's Connor Hughes reported on Monday that Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson's name has come up in trade discussions "for several teams in need of edge help." Hughes added that it would take "a lot" for the Jets to move Johnson, but teams seem to be calling.

The Jets exercised Johnson’s fifth-year option this offseason, locking him in for just over $13 million in 2026. Though he’s widely viewed as a possible extension candidate, these trade rumors suggest his future might already be in question.

A Jermaine Johnson trade could be crushing for the Jets' defense

A first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Johnson often gets overlooked when discussing the team's historic draft class that year, but the former Florida State star has developed into a Pro Bowl-caliber edge rusher in the NFL.

Johnson was named to his first Pro Bowl (as an alternate) following a breakout 2023 season that saw him finish with seven sacks and 56 total pressures, and looked well on his way to establishing himself as a franchise cornerstone for years to come.

Unfortunately, a torn Achilles sidelined him for all but two games the following season. Despite the injury, the Jets still decided to pick up his fifth-year option in the offseason, and he's rewarded them with excellent play so far in 2025.

Johnson missed three games due to a sprained ankle, but he still ranks third on the team with nine pressures and has clearly established himself as the Jets' best defensive end. The impact he made in his first game back from injury in Week 6 is proof of that.

Johnson is one of the emotional leaders of the Jets' defense and one of their most indispensable players, due in part to the stunning lack of talent behind him on the depth chart. It would be a very tough sell to trade Johnson given the current — and future — state of the defense.

The Jets have roughly one other NFL-caliber defensive end under contract, and it's Will McDonald, who has yet to prove he can function as a three-down player. Trading Johnson wouldn't make much sense for this Jets team, even if the organization takes part in somewhat of a fire sale.

Jermaine Johnson should be a part of the solution in New York. It's no surprise that teams are calling the Jets about the availability of their best players, but he's likely not someone the franchise should consider moving at this stage.