
#11 DE · Tennessee Titans
2 transactions this offseason
Height
6'5"
Weight
254 lbs
Age
27
Draft
2022, Rd 1, #26
Experience
4 yrs
DE Rank
#40 / 147
Grade Jermaine Johnson II
Your grade joins the crowd-sourced Fan Verdict.
On the field, Jermaine Johnson II grades out as a strong DE for Tennessee Titans (B- Performance). That places him 40th of 147 graded defensive ends. The contract is harder to defend: the Contract Value Index calls it fairly priced (C), with the cost outrunning the output. The public read is positive (B- Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal rather than the box score.
| 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 | 7.5 |
Length
1 year
Total Value
$1.1M
AAV
$1.1M/yr
The Titans secured solid value by locking up Jermaine Johnson II at just $1.1M for one year, landing what amounts to a steal for a serviceable starter at defensive end. Johnson's production tier as a dependable rotational piece far exceeds what you'd typically expect from a minimum-wage contract, giving Tennessee legitimate pass rush depth without breaking the bank. At 27, he's entering his prime years where defensive ends often hit their peak blend of experience and athleticism, making this a shrewd low-risk gamble with genuine upside. The one-year structure works perfectly for both sides — Johnson gets a chance to rebuild his market value while the Titans can evaluate his fit without long-term commitment. This C CVI deal represents exactly the type of smart roster building that contending teams execute, adding proven NFL talent at a fraction of what similar production typically costs on the open market.
Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Jermaine's contract sits relative to comparable money.
Jermaine Johnson II is a four-year veteran defensive end for the Titans who has established himself as a reliable pass-rush contributor despite inconsistent production. The 27-year-old has appeared in 47 career games and currently carries a B-minus grade reflecting a player in decline after posting stronger performances earlier in his tenure. Johnson remains a competent starter, though recent performance trends suggest diminishing effectiveness compared to his 2023 output. Johnson's current-season pass-rush metrics paint a mixed picture relative to NFL standards. His 0.21 sacks per game slightly exceed the league average of 0.19, positioning him in average territory on the edge, while his 0.36 tackles for loss per game meaningfully outpace the 0.27 NFL benchmark—a genuine strength. However, his 0.43 quarterback hits per game match the league average exactly, indicating he's generating contact without consistently finishing plays, a concerning gap between effort and production that has plagued his recent seasons. The statistical narrative reflects a troubling downward arc: Johnson dropped from a B grade in 2023 to a C in 2024, then fell further to a C-minus in 2025. This three-year slide suggests age, injury accumulation, or scheme fit issues are eroding his effectiveness. Moving forward, Johnson must prove he can return to his 2023 level or risk becoming a backup-caliber rotational piece. The Titans should monitor whether his tackle-for-loss efficiency can sustain his roster value if pass-rush production continues stalling.
Jermaine Johnson II ranks 40th of 147 graded defensive ends by performance. That slots Jermaine between Aj Epenesa (B-) just ahead and Derrick Brown (B-) just behind.
Graded higher
Aj EpenesaPhiladelphia EaglesB-Dayo OdeyingboChicago BearsB-Emmanuel OgbahFree AgentB-Graded lower
Derrick BrownCarolina PanthersTitans swap interior presence for edge rush help in a lateral depth move. Five headlines suggest reporters view this as roughly even value between young edge and interior lineman. Johnson offers upside as a former first-round pick with pass-rush potential. Fans debate whether sweat's development justifies losing a promising defensive tackle. Tennessee gets a ceiling play on defense but trades proven interior stability away.
1 yr / $1.1M
Auto-moderated fan forum with 5-minute speaker turns
Loading discussion...
Jermaine Johnson II is a player in his 4th NFL season listed at DE for the Tennessee Titans. FanVerdicts covers every NFL player, team, GM, and transaction — and puts your verdict on all of it. Sign in to cast your Fan Verdict on Jermaine Johnson II, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts also brings its own read — performance, sentiment, and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index C, Performance B-, Sentiment B-.
The crowd's Fan Verdict moves in real time as fans vote on this profile. FanVerdicts' own read updates as new data lands — performance recalculates when NFL game stats post, sentiment shifts with media coverage and fan discussion, and the Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) behind the Contract Value Index read.
For league-wide context, the NFL hub has team rankings, GM report cards, the transactions feed, and live scoreboards. The NFL player rankings page sorts every active player by performance and contract value within their position.
| 55 |
| 8 |
| 2022 | ![]() | 14 | 2.5 | 29 | 5 |
Updated Jun 6, 2026
Recent seasons are weighted more heavily in the overall performance grade.
C-
2025
(50% weight)
C
2024
(30% weight)
B
2023
(20% weight)
Peers ranked by Performance grade among players at the same position. Tap any name for their full profile.