Jermaine Johnson II

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	7.5

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

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.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

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.

Performance Analysis

Jermaine Johnson II's on-field production earns a B- performance grade against DE peers across the league. The 2025 season showed modest contribution with 43 tackles and 3 sacks across 14 games—a respectable floor that demonstrates durability and meaningful snap availability, even if the sack total underscores why the Jets were willing to move on. His tackle volume represents his statistical strength, indicating consistent assignment recognition and gap discipline rather than elite disruptive play. The persistent sack production remains the limiting factor: three sacks in 14 games falls short of the pass-rush urgency expected from a first-round edge talent, particularly given the position's premium value in modern defensive schemes. At 27 and four seasons into his career, Johnson is operating in that critical developmental window where a scheme change or renewed focus could unlock dormant upside—and the Titans' willingness to trade interior defensive line depth suggests they believe Tennessee's defensive environment may provide exactly that catalyst. His early leadership and recruitment efforts signal buy-in and veteran presence, but the performance grade itself reflects that he remains a reclamation project rather than a proven edge rusher commanding premium production.

How Jermaine Compares at the Position

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.

Fan Sentiment

Public perception of Jermaine Johnson II sits at a C sentiment grade, capturing how the Tennessee Titans fan base and beat writers are framing his role. The media narrative centers on Johnson as a reclamation project with legitimate upside—a 2022 first-round pick who never fully broke through in New York's defensive scheme but is now getting a fresh-start opportunity in Tennessee following the trade that sent nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat to the Jets. Coverage acknowledges the modest return on his draft pedigree: 13 career sacks over four seasons represent a cautious market view, though early reports of Johnson actively recruiting free agents to Nashville have sparked positive attention for his leadership presence and buy-in. The sentiment treads a middle ground between optimistic and skeptical—analysts frame the swap as a calculated lateral move addressing specific pass rush needs, with fans and media debating whether his edge-rush upside justifies moving interior defensive line depth. Johnson's 2025 season output of 43 tackles and 3 sacks across 14 games aligns with the B- performance grade, showing solid run-defense work but limited impact as a pass rusher—a profile that will hinge his standing entirely on early performance in Tennessee's defensive scheme come September. Overall, the narrative is one of cautious confidence rather than conviction: Johnson enters 2026 viewed as a calculated gamble with unproven pass-rush ceiling, and his perception will shift dramatically based on what the field reveals.