The NFL Combine isn't just about scouting perspective players, it's an opportunity for the NFL world to get together and talk all kinds of business. The Tennessee Titans helped remind everyone of that Thursday morning, when they reportedly agreed to a trade with the New York Jets to bring defensive end Jermaine Johnson to Tennessee, in exchange for defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat.
Johnson is a productive edge defender, so the Titans adding him will undoubtedly affect the rest of the team's offseason. His addition to the roster could especially change Tennessee's approach to the first round of the NFL Draft. While it's still early in the draft season, many mock drafts had the Titans selecting an edge defender with their fourth-overall pick. Since the team has now addressed that need, the franchise can pick at no. 4 with a little bit more freedom.
Titans can address other needs in first round of draft after trading for defensive end Jermaine Johnson
It was no secret that Tennessee needed help at the defensive end position. That's why a lot of mock drafts had the Titans taking guys like Rueben Bain Jr., the elite edge defender out of Miami. However, Tennessee now has some edge help with Johnson.
Johnson was drafted in the first round of the 2022 Draft by the Jets, when Robert Saleh was New York's head coach. In four seasons with the Jets, 47 games, Johnson recorded 13 sacks, 131 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss, and one interception that he returned for a touchdown. He now reunites with Saleh in Tennessee, the coach he had his lone Pro Bowl season under.
With Johnson added to the defensive line, the Titans could absolutely still add a player like Bain, and create a potentially dominant duo. That option will still be on the table for Tennessee. The exciting thing, though, is that the team doesn't have to take an edge defender.
It's always best for teams to address as many of their needs as possible before the draft, so once the draft arrives, teams have the freedom to be aggressive and take the best player available. So with Johnson now in Tennessee, the Titans could explore adding other top prospects like a wide receiver, or an elite player at any position.