The New York Jets can scratch one team off the Jermaine Johnson trade sweepstakes list.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter revealed on social media that the Miami Dolphins are trading pass rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick.
NFL Insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported over the weekend that the Jets and Eagles had trade discussions about the availability of Johnson. The green and white were seeking “a second-round pick or better”, according to Russini’s sources.
With the Eagles adding a different pass rusher, they have simultaneously removed themselves from the Johnson trade discussions.
Eagles Had Extra Ammunition to Play With Thanks to the Jets
ESPN’s Jordan Reid revealed that the Eagles “are still projected to have eight draft picks in 2026.”
That group of picks includes: a first-rounder, a second-rounder, a pair of third-rounders, a pair of fourth-rounders, and a pair of fifth-rounders.
Reid explained that projection includes “three total compensatory picks for Milton Williams (3rd), Josh Sweat (4th), and Mekhi Becton (5th).”
They had an extra third-rounder because of the Haason Reddick Jets trade in 2024. ESPN’s Rich Cimini is on record saying the Reddick deal was one of the “worst” Jets trades in franchise history.
“Important note: The Eagles are trading their original 3rd-round pick, per league source — not the Jets’ pick that was acquired in the Haason Reddick deal,” Zach Berman of The Athletic confirmed.
That is significant. The Eagles lead the NFC East at 6-2 and project to have a pick at the end of the third round. While the Jets, at 1-7, are in the cellar of the AFC East, and project to have a pick at the top of the third round.
Trading Johnson Would Be a Mistake for the Jets
There have been a ton of rumors that Johnson could be moved ahead of the Tuesday, November 4, NFL trade deadline.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini said Johnson has been “generating interest.”
“Johnson said he was told by the front office that he won’t be traded; that hasn’t stopped teams from calling,” Cimini added.
Through the first five weeks of the season, the Jets’ defense was a sieve. Over that span, they allowed 31.4 points per game.
However, over the last three games, the Jets have only allowed 21.3 points per game. If you take out the 38-point barrage by the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8, the Jets have only allowed 13 points per game.
What is the commonality?
In the first month plus of the season, Johnson was compromised from an injury perspective. He either missed games or wasn’t at 100%.
When he returned in Week 6, everything changed on the Jets’ defense. Coincidence? I think not.
Johnson, 26, is a player the Jets should look to keep long term. Not ship off to the highest bidder at the deadline.
He is a straw that stirs the drink for this defense, both on and off the field. Trading him for pennies on the dollar would send the wrong message to the locker room.
The Jets will likely make some moves ahead of the trade deadline, but Johnson shouldn’t be one of them.
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