With training camp getting close, the Titans’ list of most important players is nearly wrapped up, and Jermaine Johnson II lands right in the middle of the conversation at No. 10.
The edge rusher arrived in Tennessee through the trade with the New York Jets that sent T’Vondre Sweat the other way, a move that caught people off guard when it happened. Sweat is a strong player, but the fit for Johnson is easier to see in Robert Saleh’s defense. Johnson brings the kind of power off the edge that this scheme can use, while a nose tackle like Sweat wasn’t needed in that setup.
That trade alone puts a spotlight on Johnson, but the bigger reason he matters is simpler: he’s the veteran starter on the edge. If he weren’t there, the Titans would be leaning heavily on rookie Keldric Faulk and second-year player Femi Oladejo to handle most of the reps. Johnson gives them the safer option, the one with the higher floor.
There’s also the price tag attached to him. Tennessee gave up a player who was one of the best at his position, so Johnson has to justify that kind of move. He has already made a Pro Bowl before, and if he gets back to that level, he’ll be one of the team’s most important pieces without question.
Even if the sack total doesn’t jump off the page, Johnson still has value because of the ripple effect he can create. He can draw attention away from other defenders, help bring the younger players along, and use his experience with Saleh to get teammates settled and ready.
Of course, there are real questions here too. The biggest one has been consistency.
Johnson posted 7.5 sacks and made the Pro Bowl in 2023, then missed most of 2024 because of an injury and finished 2025 with just three sacks. His run defense has also been a concern.
In 2025, he earned a 58.3 run defense grade, which ranked 83rd among edge rushers.
But the upside is obvious. Johnson has the kind of size and speed teams look for on the edge, and once he gets rolling, he’s tough to slow down.
The sacks didn’t come in bunches in 2025, but the pressure did. He finished with 35 pressures, which put him in the top half of the league.
That’s why he fits so well in Saleh’s system. Johnson has the length Saleh likes in his pass rushers, and his best work comes when he’s simply asked to attack the edge rather than carry a heavy load in run defense. In that role, he could be exactly the kind of pass-rush specialist this defense wants, and another Pro Bowl appearance wouldn’t be a surprise.
His importance goes beyond production, though. Johnson gives the Titans a veteran in the room while Faulk can be eased in instead of being rushed. And based on Johnson’s social media activity, he also looks like someone who could emerge as one of the team’s leaders.
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