Jermaine Johnson

Career StatsB-

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		47	13.0	131	19
2025		14	3.0	43	5
2024		2	0.0	4	1
2023		17

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Among defensive ends at this AAV tier, Jermaine Johnson earns a B- Contract Value Index. At $3.3M annually across a four-year rookie scale deal, Johnson represents fair value for a fourth-year depth-to-rotational pass rusher—the contract reflects his actual role-player status rather than any inflated expectations. His 2025 production of 43 tackles and 3 sacks across 14 games confirms he remains a complementary defender, not a franchise anchor, and that modest output aligns logically with a sub-$3.5M annual commitment; the Titans are not overpaying for elite edge production, but they're also not stealing a bargain on a proven star. The rookie-scale structure does carry an inherent advantage—Johnson is locked in at this rate through the deal's duration, insulating Tennessee from inflation-driven salary creep—though the four-year tail means the team is banking on either sustained productivity or, more realistically, eventual trade flexibility or release options in years three and four. Media framing has temporarily inflated Johnson's profile around the trade itself, but the CVI verdict centers on dollars-to-production reality: a role-player salary for a role-player edge rusher, with no surplus value built in. The deal works as a low-cost insurance piece in a broader defensive line build, but validation will require Johnson to improve upon his 3-sack baseline and prove the change of scenery unlocks meaningful pass-rush impact in Tennessee's scheme.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Jermaine's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Jermaine Johnson is a four-year NFL veteran and established edge rusher for the Tennessee Titans who has proven capable of contributing in pass-rush situations across multiple seasons. The 27-year-old has appeared in 47 career games and developed into a reliable rotational defender, though his production has declined noticeably over the past two years. Currently grading out at B-minus, Johnson sits in the average-to-slightly-above-average range among NFL edge rushers, a step down from his more productive 2023 campaign. This season, Johnson's pass-rush metrics paint a mixed picture relative to league standards. His sack rate of 0.21 per game sits marginally above the NFL average of 0.19, while his 0.36 tackles for loss per game exceeds the 0.27 benchmark—suggesting he remains effective at disrupting backfield plays even when not finishing sacks. However, his quarterback hit total of 0.43 per game matches the league average exactly, indicating he's generating pressure without consistently converting opportunities into statistics. The concerning trend is his downward trajectory: Johnson has slipped from a B-grade campaign in 2023 to a C in 2024 and a C-minus in 2025, signaling diminished impact during his prime years. Looking ahead, Johnson faces a critical juncture in his career. If he cannot stabilize his production and reverse this three-year decline, his role as a starter or premium reserve could be at risk heading into the 2026 offseason. The Titans will be monitoring whether this downturn reflects coaching adjustments, scheme fit, or erosion of his core pass-rush ability—answers that will determine his long-term viability in Tennessee's defensive rotation.

How Jermaine Compares at the Position

Jermaine Johnson ranks 40th of 147 graded defensive ends by performance. That slots Jermaine between Aj Epenesa (B-) just ahead and Derrick Brown (B-) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Recent headlines push Jermaine Johnson's sentiment grade to a B, with Tennessee's broader season shaping the read. The trade narrative from New York has temporarily elevated Johnson's profile beyond his career production alone—media outlets are framing the acquisition as a potential scheme-fit coup for the Titans, with analysts suggesting the change of scenery could unlock greater defensive impact in Tennessee's system. Yet this optimism sits in clear tension with his actual on-field resume: his 2025 season yielded 43 tackles and 3 sacks across 14 games, confirming he remains a depth-to-rotational edge rusher rather than a pass-rush anchor, which explains why his performance grade sits at B-. The Titans have since invested heavily in defensive line depth—signing Jeffery Simmons, Jalyn Holmes, and Keldric Faulk while releasing Trey Hill—a move pattern that positions Johnson as one piece of a larger rebuild effort rather than a singular savior, further tempering expectations. The bottom line: Johnson arrives in Nashville with cautious optimism, but it's a wait-and-see story; media coverage reflects curiosity about his potential rather than confidence in immediate impact, and Tennessee fans appear more interested in validating the trade than convinced by his track record heading into a 3-14 season.