The first blockbuster trade of the 2026 NFL offseason just landed, and the Tennessee Titans are right in the middle of it — shipping 366-pound defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat to the New York Jets in exchange for edge rusher Jermaine Johnson. The Titans-Jets trade marks a combine-week stunner that doubles as a scheme-fit shakeup, as trade buzz built up for weeks around the Titans.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the deal on Feb. 26, confirming a straight player-for-player swap between the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini added that both players must pass physicals before the league can process the deal, with the new league year kicking off March 11.
Tennessee Titans Land Edge Help as New York Jets Retool Defensive Line
Russini reported that Robert Saleh’s familiarity with Johnson from their time together in New York made the edge rusher a natural fit for what the Tennessee Titans are building.
Johnson, the No. 26 overall pick in 2022, made the Pro Bowl in 2023 with 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. He tore his Achilles in September 2024 but returned in 2025 to log 43 tackles, 3 sacks, and 35 pressures across 14 games. The Tennessee Titans needed edge help badly, and Saleh already knows exactly what Johnson can do in his scheme.
Sweat, a former second-round pick out of Texas in the 2024 NFL Draft, brings a massive 366-pound frame to a New York Jets defensive front that needs interior presence.
What This Means for the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets in 2026
Russini’s reporting tells the story on the Tennessee Titans’ side. The shift in defensive philosophy turned Sweat into a movable piece. Ran Carthon drafted T’Vondre Sweat, and the Tennessee Titans have continued to purge Carthon-era mismatches as they build around Saleh’s vision. Sweat logged 85 tackles and 3 sacks across 29 career games.
The Titans lack edge depth heading into this NFL offseason. Jihad Ward and Arden Key are set to become free agents, which means Johnson could immediately slot in as a starter. The Tennessee Titans now have cap space, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and a proven edge rusher who already knows the head coach’s playbook.
Does this mean the Titans will target offensive help in the first round of the NFl draft? That’s the chess match that just got a lot more interesting. The Titas now have a bit of flexibility to scheme up their master plan as NFL free agency leads up to the 2026 NFL draft.
Tennessee’s scheme switch made Sweat a trade option, while Robert Saleh’s history with Johnson made him an ideal target for the Titans’ new regime.
Sweat was mainly a two-down run-stuffer, and there are some decent replacements available in the free agent pool. This deal brings back talent into one of the Titans’ biggest positions of need.
Sweat fills the New York Jets’ Quinnen Williams void. He’s a 24-year-old wrecking ball with two years left on his rookie deal. The Jets are clearly stockpiling young talent along the defensive interior as GM Darren Mougey reshapes the roster. The NFL offseason is clearly just getting started for them.
Buckle up. The Tennessee Titans and New York Jets just set the table for the NFL offseason.
Titans Trade Huge Player to Jets for Jermaine Johnson