Jets Retain Jermaine Johnson II Despite Trade Interest from Bears, 49ers
The New York Jets opted to retain star pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson II despite interest from the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers ahead of the 2025 National Football League trade deadline. As the clock ticked toward the Tuesday deadline at 4 p.m. ET, rumors intensified regarding potential trades involving Johnson, but the Jets did not receive an acceptable offer.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, both the Bears and 49ers made attempts to acquire Johnson. “Sources: The Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers were among the teams that tried to trade for Jets pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson II,” Schultz reported. The Jets reportedly sought a second-round pick in exchange for Johnson, prompting the Bears to pivot to another player, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, while the 49ers chose to hold their ground. A trade to San Francisco would have reunited Johnson with coach Robert Saleh.
Further insights from Connor Hughes of SNY revealed that an offer involving a second-round pick was indeed on the table. However, the Jets were not willing to finalize the deal, indicating they wanted a better return. “There was an offer out there for a second-round pick on Jermaine Johnson,” Hughes stated. “The Jets wanted a little bit more. They were unable to negotiate that with a team, so no trade happened, and Jermaine Johnson came back.”
Throughout the trade discussions, Johnson expressed his desire to remain with the Jets. Following the deadline, he reaffirmed his commitment to the team on social media, stating that New York is where he wants to be.
Retaining Johnson may prove to be a wise decision for the Jets. The 26-year-old missed much of the 2024 season due to an Achilles injury and has faced challenges this season, participating in just five games. Nevertheless, he has shown signs of dominance on the field. If a team had made a compelling offer, the Jets could have considered parting ways with him. Instead, they held firm, recognizing that Johnson’s potential could yield greater returns in the future.
Johnson remains under contract for next season, and if he can maintain his health and performance, the prospect of trading him could be revisited during the offseason or at next year’s trade deadline. The Jets previously traded Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams only after receiving substantial offers for those players. With an eye on stockpiling high draft picks for the 2026 and 2027 drafts, the Jets may find that they can garner more value for Johnson if he continues to excel and prove his durability.
The interest from the league, as noted by Schultz, underscores Johnson’s appeal. As he strives to perform well in the remaining games of the season, the likelihood of trade discussions resurfacing in the offseason remains high. The Jets have made a calculated decision to keep a player of Johnson’s caliber, allowing him the opportunity to contribute to the team’s success.
