When the Tennessee Titans made the decision to trade T'Vondre Sweat for Jermaine Johnson, it was a decision driven by scheme and culture fit.
Not only was Sweat not a fit for Robert Saleh's defense, but the perception is that he wasn't a self-starter. On the other hand, Saleh and DL Coach Aaron Whitecotton raved about Johnson as a person and player, and the Titans had a massive need at EDGE compared to a situation at defensive tackle where life was made easier by playing next to Simmons.
It took some time for things to progress, but now it should be obvious that this trade was a massive win for the Titans.
Titans EDGE Jermaine Johnson II is starting to be very productive
Since the start of October, Johnson has recorded 3.0 sacks, four TFLs, and four QB hits in three games. While the pass-rushing prowess will catch people's attention, he has been even more effective as a run defender. According to PFF's run defense metric, he is near the top-10 when it comes to EDGEs versus the run. Take every PFF stat with a grain of salt, but that matches up with the eye test.
The truth is, for a former first-round EDGE, Johnson makes his money as a run defender and as someone who attacks offensive tackles with power and physicality. However, the former Florida State standout has recently shown that he can counter that power with more finesse when tackles focus too much on anchoring themselves against his pass rush, hence the new-found sack production.
Johnson's three sacks in Tennessee's last three games are as many as he has had in his previous 19. The reason for that is that he suffered an Achilles injury against the Titans in 2024, and that injury takes a long time for athletes to feel comfortable again. However, now it looks like he is recapturing his previous form, and the good news is that the success should continue this weekend when the Titans host the Cleveland Browns.
Titans EDGE Jermaine Johnson has broken out in October
Browns QB Deshaun Watson is the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL, and while part of that is due to some suspect offensive tackle play in Cleveland, Watson himself is usually the problem.
Watson has a tendency to drift in the pocket, lock on to receivers for too long, or drop his eyes and try to find an escape route with his legs. For someone like Johnson, who can get good push against offensive tackles with his power, that sets up for him to have a productive day whether that means setting someone up to make a play or if he ends up with a sack or two again.
Confidence and proof of concept are what the Titans need right now, and they got a taste of that against the Indianapolis Colts. If they can keep their foot on the gas and have another big day defensively, this could be the start of a franchise-wide turnaround for this team, and Johnson could be one of the biggest factors in that.
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