Will Anderson Jr. extension proves Jets were proactive in trading Jermaine Johnson

The Houston Texans made a splash on Friday afternoon, inking All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. to a record-breaking three-year, $150 million contract extension, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Anderson's $50 million annual average value makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL on a per-year basis, surpassing the mark set by Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons' $46.5 million AAV.

The edge rusher market has exploded over the last few seasons. Anderson and Parsons are just the latest beneficiaries of that pay bump. Even players who aren't of that same caliber are seeing some pretty high contract numbers, like Jacksonville Jaguars edge Travon Walker. The former No. 1 overall pick inked a four-year, $110 million deal a few weeks ago.

The New York Jets likely saw this coming when they made the decision to trade their own former first-round pass rusher, Jermaine Johnson, who was set to play out the final year of his rookie contract on the fifth-year option.

Jets mdae the proactive move trading away Jermaine Johnson

Johnson was set to be a free agent after the 2026 season, and the Jets, of course, knew this. It was somewhat obvious he wasn't interested in being in New York long-term, and the trade for T'Vondre Sweat made a lot of sense.

Johnson got to team back up with his old head coach, and the Jets got a nose tackle for their new defensive scheme. New York no longer has to worry about negotiating a contract with a player whose market is on the rise, thanks to his position.

Projecting a new deal for Johnson is tricky. He's a former Pro Bowler, but earned that nod as a replacement. He's been in the league for four years but has missed 21 games due to injury. When on the field, he can be disruptive, but he wasn't all that productive in 2025.

Spotrac expects the former Florida State standout to land a four-year, $73.2 million contract on his next deal, earning $18.3 million on a per-year basis. That puts him in the top 20 highest-paid pass rushers in the NFL.

Johnson is a good player, but one of the 20 best edges in the league? It was a wise move for the Jets to move on from his services, especially at that price. They can allocate their resources better.

Will McDonald's future contract talks will be an interesting one. New York intends to pick up his fifth-year option, but he'll be due for a new deal next offseason regardless. We'll see how Darren Mougey handles negotiations in an ever-rising market.

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