Jets, Titans Exchange Defensive Players Ahead of Free Agency | Fantasy Football Impact

There's not a ton of NFL news right now, with free agency not opening until March 11 (the start of the new league year).

That didn't stop the Titans and Jets from just completing a trade. Let's break that down, going over real-world and fantasy football implications.

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The Trade and Stats

The teams swapped nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat and defensive end Jermaine Johnson. Sweat will join the Jets, while Johnson is now on the Titans.

Sweat is 24 years old and has two years of NFL play under his belt. In 29 games (28 starts), he has 85 combined tackles and three sacks. 

Sweat also has two passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Of his tackles, eight have gone for losses, and he has six quarterback hits.

Johnson is 27 years old and has been in the NFL for four seasons. He has 131 combined tackles and 13 sacks.

Johnson has started 32 of his 47 games he's appeared in. He has an interception, nine passes defensive, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Of his tackles, 20 have gone for losses, and he has 27 QB hits.

Jets' Defensive Outlook

Johnson was a starting defensive end for New York, so that's a starting spot opened up. Will McDonald IV is one starting defensive end in New York, and Micheal Clemons, Braiden McGregor, Eric Watts, Tyler Baron, Kingsley Jonathan and Ochaun Mathis are backup options (if they are all retained).

I'd expect the Jets to make defensive end a priority this offseason, whether that be adding players through free agency or in the draft. 

Sweat will be an option at a defensive tackle spot. Other options at those spots are Harrison Phillips, Jowon Briggs, Jay Tufele, Khalen Saunders, Mazi Smith and Payton Page (if they are all retained).

Again, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Jets add players in the defensive tackle room. 

I think the move is a slight downgrade for the Jets' defense, as Johnson was a nice asset when healthy. New York's defense needs more impact players and has a long way to go before it's a formidable group.

Expect New York to focus on that side of the ball this offseason. The Jets' offense is also lacking, so I wouldn't anticipate the defense to be top notch next year, as the organization cannot spend all its assets on defensive players.

So while the move is a negative for the defense, it's unlikely to make that big of a difference in the real world.

Titans' Defensive Outlook

I'm a fan of this more for the Titans' defense. Johnson adds another impact player for a defense that has some guys, but is still a few pieces away from being a high-end unit.

Sweat was the nose tackle starter, and just Cam Horsley is a backup there. Jeffery Simmons is the defensive tackle, and James Lynch is another option there.

Now down Sweat, you can bet that the Titans will add a couple DTs/NTs to the team this offseason through free agency or the draft. Losing Sweat hurts in that regard, but getting Johnson improves the defense, in my eyes.

Sebastian Joseph-Day is a starting defensive end in Tennessee, and C.J. Ravenell is a backup option. Johnson should start over them, or at some spot on the defense in 2026.

Arden Key and Oluwafemi Oladejo are the starting outside linebackers, where Johnson could also slide over to. Jaylen Harrell, Ali Gaye, Jihad Ward and Truman Jones are other options at OLB.

It's not a top-end pass-rushing unit, but adding Johnson makes the group better. Adding more talent to the room isn't off the table this offseason, and it could be a sneaky-good front seven in Tennessee in 2026.

Expect the Titans to keep adding defensive players this offseason, as the team has a lot of its offense figured out - they still are likely to keep adding on offense to surround Cameron Ward with more firepower.

Fantasy Outlooks for Traded Players

For those playing in IDP leagues, Sweat and Johnson are each fantasy options.

Johnson has been the better fantasy asset, and I don't see that changing after this trade. He can be a solid source of tackles, while chipping in some sacks and tackles for losses.

Maybe he can bounce back in 2026 with a new team and look more like his 2023 self. Johnson had 55 combined tackles (11 TFLs) and 7.5 sacks in that season.

Johnson is a better option in deeper leagues, but could work into more IDP leagues with a bounceback showing in 2026.

Sweat doesn't add much for sacks, but he has tackle potential (he had 51 combined tackles in 2024). He should start and play enough in New York to have IDP upside.

I don't see either guy developing into high-end defensive talents, but don't write them off completely either, because you never know how a trade is going to affect a player in the long run.