The New York Jets went on a $250 million spending spree ahead of training camp.
Gang Green rewarded two former 2022 first-round draft choices with long-term deals: wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner.
However, one former first-rounder from the 2022 draft class was left empty-handed, pass rusher Jermaine Johnson.
A fan on Johnson’s Discord asked him when he was going to get the bag.
“Not worried about money right now. I’m worried about going out and balling and winning a chip. The way I play, that stuff will handle itself. Sauce and G more than earned that. I have not. Work must get done. 2025 gonna be legendary,” Johnson strongly responded.
Join my community on discord! Great vibes and a genuine community💯https://t.co/bhU2kV0pvn https://t.co/NB7U1MTMjT
— Jermaine Johnson II (@ii_jermaine) July 15, 2025
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Johnson, 26, had his fifth-year team option picked up earlier this offseason. The former Florida State product is under contract for the next two seasons through 2026.
Insider Believes Johnson Has Something to Prove Before Receiving a Pile of Money
NFL Insider Albert Breer said he doesn’t anticipate Gardner and Wilson being “the last two guys that [Aaron] Glenn and [Darren] Mougey inherited that they will reward.”
One player that could fit that future category is Johnson.
He was the No. 26 overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. The Jets had him ranked as a top-10 player in that class, and when he began to slip on draft day, former general manager Joe Douglas went to work attempting to trade up for him.
They eventually found a trade partner with the Tennessee Titans at the backend of the first round. Johnson was the third first-round draft choice by the Jets that night, joining Gardner and Wilson.
The #Jets did a phenomenal job with their ‘One Jets Drive’ series.
This moment of GM Joe Douglas seeing the Chiefs trade up thinking it was for Jermaine Johnson is great.
The draft room reaction when they finally get Johnson is awesome.
(via @NYJets YT) pic.twitter.com/xktHVFIVJo
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 17, 2022
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Johnson has shown flashes throughout his career of being a potential building block, but he is coming off a torn Achilles that cost him 15 games last season.
“Johnson is going to have to prove himself coming back off of injury,” Breer said on “The Breer Report.”
ESPN’s Rich Cimini Shares His Johnson-Jets Take
ESPN’s Rich Cimini joined “The Jake Asman Show” on Friday, July 18.
“I think he [Johnson] feels himself that I don’t want to sign anything now, I want to have a good year, and then my market value will go up next year,” Cimini explained to host Jake Asman.
In theory, the Jets could get Johnson on a discounted rate if they signed him ahead of the 2025 season.
Johnson has racked up 10 sacks, 21 quarterback hits, and 15 tackles for loss during his three-year career to date. However, last year was lost by injury, and his value/leverage in these negotiations isn’t very high.
It would behoove Johnson to play out the 2025 season, ball out, and then approach the Jets about a big-money extension next offseason.
Based on his own words from Discord, he knows that and is ready to make his case undeniable based on the production on the field.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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