The trade reunites Johnson with new Titans head coach Robert Saleh, who was in New York when the Jets used a first-round pick on the edge rusher in 2022. Johnson had a rollercoaster four seasons in New York, totaling 13.0 sacks. He earned a Pro Bowl nod under Saleh in 2023, racking up 7.5 sacks, but 2024 injuries wiped out all but two deficits, and he never looked right last season.
The move underscores the Titans’ need for pass-rushing help around star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. The trade sweat further increases Tennessee’s chances of using its share of free-agent money along the defensive line — a reunion with former Saleh loyalist John Franklin-Myers, anyone?
Johnson was a trade candidate last year, and moving him now highlights the likelihood of the Gang Green using the No. 2 overall pick on rookie edge. Adding Sweat, a 6-foot-4, 366-pound beast, adds beef to the middle of Aaron Glenn’s defense, which struggled against the run. The former second-round pick has three sacks in two seasons but eats up blockers.