Jermaine Johnson II:
The Perfect Bounce-Back Candidate in Tennessee
LAB REPORTS
The Perfect Bounce-Back Candidate in Tennessee
Jermaine Johnson II enters the 2026 season as one of the NFL’s most intriguing bounce-back candidates. A former first-round pick, Pro Bowl edge rusher, and now a fully healthy defender reunited with the coach who helped unlock his potential, Johnson has all the ingredients for a career resurgence with the Tennessee Titans.
🏈 The Road to the NFL
Johnson’s journey to the NFL was anything but conventional.
After beginning his career at Independence Community College, he spent two seasons at Georgia (2019-2020) before transferring to Florida State for his final year of eligibility in 2021. That lone season in Tallahassee was nothing short of dominant.
Johnson piled up 70 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks while earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors—the first player ever to win the award in his first season with an ACC program.
At 6-foot-5, 254 pounds with 34-inch arms and a blazing 4.58-second 40-yard dash, Johnson entered the 2022 NFL Draft as one of the most physically gifted edge rushers in the class. The New York Jets selected him 26th overall.
📈NFL Career Arc
2022: Rookie Year
Johnson appeared in 14 games as a rookie, recording 29 tackles and 2.5 sacks. While the numbers were modest, the flashes of explosiveness and pass-rushing ability were obvious.
2023: Breakout Season.
Starting all 17 games, Johnson erupted for 55 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and 53 quarterback pressures. He also added an interception returned for a touchdown, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. His outstanding season earned him his first Pro Bowl selection while thriving in Robert Saleh’s defensive system.
2024: A Devastating Setback
Momentum came to a halt in Week 2 when Johnson suffered a torn Achilles against the Titans, ending his season after just two games.
2025: The Comeback
Returning from one of football’s most difficult injuries, Johnson played in 14 games (13 starts), posting 43 tackles and 3.0 sacks.
Those numbers understandably fell short of his Pro Bowl campaign, but they represented a solid return for a player just one year removed from a torn Achilles. Through four NFL seasons, Johnson has totaled 131 tackles, 13 sacks, an interception returned for a touchdown, and consistently strong pressure metrics.
💵 The Trade That Could Change Everything
In March 2026, the Jets sent Johnson to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat.
More importantly, the move reunited him with Robert Saleh, now Tennessee’s head coach.
That reunion could prove invaluable.
Saleh’s aggressive four-man front is built around athletic edge rushers who can win one-on-one while setting the edge against the run. It’s the exact scheme where Johnson produced Pro Bowl-caliber football in 2023.
Johnson has embraced the opportunity, saying Saleh’s defense “fits him perfectly,” while publicly setting a goal of 10-12 sacks and reaffirming his belief that he’s among the league’s best edge defenders when healthy.
🤔 A Perfect Scheme Fit
Johnson couldn’t have landed in a much better situation.
Jeffery Simmons remains one of the NFL’s premier interior disruptors after producing 11 sacks in 2025. Simmons’ ability to collapse the pocket should create favorable one-on-one opportunities for Johnson off the edge.
Johnson also checks every box Saleh values in an edge defender.
His length allows him to control blockers against the run. His first-step explosiveness creates immediate pressure, while his power enables him to convert speed into bull rushes. Just as importantly, his familiarity with Saleh’s terminology and philosophy should eliminate the adjustment period that often accompanies a change of teams.
💪 Healthy and Ready
Perhaps the biggest reason for optimism is simple:
Johnson is healthy.
Nearly two years removed from his Achilles injury, offseason workouts and early training camp reports have been overwhelmingly positive. He has looked explosive, moved well, and appears ready for a full workload entering his age-27 season—the traditional prime for NFL pass rushers.
❓ Why a Breakout Makes Sense
Everything appears to be aligning for Johnson entering 2026:
- Fully recovered from the Achilles injury.
- Reunited with the coach and defensive scheme that produced his best football.
- Playing alongside one of the NFL’s premier interior pass rushers in Jeffery Simmons.
- Locked into an every-down role in a defense designed to create pressure.
- Highly motivated after two frustrating seasons and publicly chasing double-digit sacks.
For IDP fantasy managers, Johnson offers one of the more appealing risk-versus-reward profiles at the position. His floor is supported by scheme familiarity and snap volume, while his ceiling is a return to double-digit sacks and another Pro Bowl appearance.
🎯Bottom Line
Jermaine Johnson II isn’t trying to prove he can become an elite edge defender.
He’s already done it.
Now healthy, reunited with Robert Saleh, and surrounded by a talented defensive front, Johnson finds himself in arguably the best situation of his career. The talent has never been in question. The health appears to be back. The scheme is familiar. The opportunity is enormous.
If everything comes together, don’t be surprised if 2026 becomes the season that reminds everyone why the Jets made him a first-round pick in the first place.
DHQ Verdict
Dynasty Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.0/5)
Risk Level: Medium
Ceiling: Double-digit sack producer and top-15 fantasy edge defender with Pro Bowl upside.
Floor: Reliable every-down starter who delivers solid tackle production but settles into the 6-8 sack range.
Buy, Hold, or Sell: Buy. Johnson’s value still reflects the uncertainty following his Achilles injury, but the combination of improved health, scheme familiarity, and surrounding talent creates an excellent buying opportunity before another breakout season.
2026 Outlook: Expect Johnson to be one of the biggest defensive bounce-back stories in the NFL. A return to 8-12 sacks, increased pressure numbers, and another Pro Bowl-caliber campaign are well within reach if he stays healthy.
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