BREAKING: JETS’ STAR DEFENDER JERMAINE JOHNSON TRADE BUZZ SHOCKS FANS AHEAD OF DEADLINE
A surprise name on the New York Jets roster has emerged in trade talks ahead of the November 4 NFL deadline.
NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY revealed that, “DE Jermaine Johnson is a name that has come up for several teams in need of edge help in trade discussions, sources told SNY. It would take ‘a lot’ for the Jets to part with Johnson, a team involved in those conversations said.”
DE Jermaine Johnson is a name that has come up for several teams in need of edge help in trade discussions, sources told SNY.
It would take “a lot” for the Jets to part with Johnson, a team involved in those conversations said
The fourth-year pro is 26 years of age and originally entered the league as the No. 26 overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.
Johnson Responds to Trade Rumors on Social Media
Johnson posted
a cryptic face with a raised eyebrow emoji, “🤨” less than an hour after Hughes’ post went up on social media.
According to Emojipedia, the face with a raised eyebrow emoji “Conveys a wide variety of sentiments, including suspicion, skepticism, concern, consideration, disbelief, and disapproval.”
Detailing Johnson’s Contract Situation With the Jets
The former Florida State product is under contract for the next two years through the 2026 season. This offseason, the Jets exercised the $13.4 million fully guaranteed fifth-year team option on Johnson’s contract.
“The only reason this would even be considered, IMO, is if the Jets don’t anticipate re-signing him next offseason (he’s on the fifth-year option in 2026). Personally, I think Jermaine Johnson is a guy you build around,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic argued.
According to Over The Cap, the Jets are set to have $74.83 million in available cap space next offseason. That would rank seventh most in the NFL.
Johnson Is the Heartbeat of This Jets Defense
The Jets‘ defense was on pace to give up more points than any D in franchise history through the first five weeks of the season.
In Week 6 against the Denver Broncos, everything changed. Johnson returned to the lineup after a three-week absence from a calf/ankle issue. Coincidence? I think not.
The Jets held Denver to its lowest scoring total of the season (13 points), restricted the Broncos‘ rushing attack to just 78 yards, and forced their first takeaway of the season.
Johnson, across his first four seasons, has registered 11 sacks, 22 quarterback hits, 16 tackles for loss, and has a pick-six on his resume.
Top Social Media Reactions to Johnson Trade Rumors
ESPN radio host Jake Asman said, “Jermaine Johnson is a leader and part of the solution for this team’s future. Trading him would be a massive mistake. As bad as the Jets look, I don’t believe even they’d be foolish enough to do this.”
“This is one of those players the #Jets should have absolutely no interest in trading. Easily their best player at a major position of need. Should be an obvious extension candidate. Tone-setter, difference-maker, and team leader. Jermaine Johnson is a part of the solution,” The Jet Press posted.
“It would make absolutely zero sense to trade Jermaine Johnson. Zero,” one fan responded.
It would make absolutely zero sense to trade Jermaine Johnson. Zero
Not every fan was against the potential move. One social media user responded, “Jets eventual record with Jermaine Johnson 0-17. Jets eventual record if they trade Jermaine Johnson 0-17.”
@BoyGreen25 Jets eventual record with Jermaine Johnson 0-17. Jets eventual record if they trade Jermaine Johnson 0-17.
“You’re 0-6. Nobody is safe,” another fan bluntly said.
Taysom Hill 2.0? Saints Add Versatile Raiders Cast-Off ‘Touchdown’ Tommy Mellott
Eight years ago today, the New Orleans Saints made what at the time felt like a fairly inconsequential roster move, claiming undrafted quarterback Taysom Hill from waivers and signing him to their practice squad ahead of the 2017 NFL season. Hill would go on to become one of the most unique and polarizing players in the league, someone who was capable of starting at quarterback, tight end or fullback depending on where he was needed.
On September 2, 2025, the Saints made another a roster move that feels inconsequential on the surface, however, given the success they had with a move such as this one eight years prior, it naturally is eliciting thoughts of Taysom Hill once again. New Orleans added former Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott to their practice squad after the 2025 6th Round pick was a cut-day casualty of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Mellott, who was named the 2024 Walter Payton Award Winner — given to the best FCS player in the nation — after an outstanding season in which Montana State went 15-1 and lost in the FCS Championship Game, was selected by the Raiders with the 212th pick in the NFL Draft not as a quarterback, but as a wide receiver.
Understandably, a former quarterback who was converted to a pass-catcher being added to the Saints practice squad would cause fans to wonder if this is Taysom Hill 2.0. And although Mellott and Hill are vastly different players with much different body types — Mellott is 5-foot-11, 206 lbs. while Hill entered the NFL at 6-foot-1, 230 lbs. — the unique skillset of “Touchdown Tommy” is enough to give fans reason to believe that the Saints have found another diamond in the rough.
Who is Tommy Mellott?
Let’s start here… Tommy Mellott is not someone who is going to make an immediate impact for the New Orleans Saints. Just because that’s the case, it doesn’t mean Saints fans should feel foolish for having their curiosity piqued by what Mellott
Despite being named Montana’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a quarterback during his senior high school season, Tommy Mellott spent his first season with the Bobcats as a wide receiver and special teams performer before being named the team’s starting quarterback before the 2021 FCS Playoffs began. The redshirt freshman led the Bobcats all the way to the FCS Championship Game.
Over four years, Mellott would start 41 games at quarterback and earn a 33-8 record. In addition to over 6,000 passing yards and 55 passing touchdowns, Mellott added 3,517 yards and 43 touchdowns on the ground. But when it was time to enter the NFL Draft, Mellott converted to wide receiver, blazed a 4.39 40-yard dash and exploded for a 41-inch vertical at his pro day, and had the Raiders calling on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
Like many 6th Round picks, things didn’t pan out for Mellott with the team that drafted him. After the Raiders made the decision to cut Mellott, general manager John Spytek explained why the undersized weapon didn’t make the 53-man roster.
“I have a lot of respect for Tommy, and there was a lot of hard decisions that we made the last couple of days. Ultimately, our responsibility, coach (Carroll) and myself, is to put the best 53, and then 17 after that, to get ready to win football games,” Spytek told reporters. “There’s always a development part of that, too. But there’s a reality, sometimes, that who is most ready, and who is furthest along and who can help this team win the most.”
The Saints likely won’t be doing much winning during the 2025 season anyway, so they can afford to slow-play Mellott’s development in the off-chance that in a couple of years from now, he’s ready to emerge as a do-it-all playmaker akin to Taysom Hill.
“My entire career in college, to be honest with you, has kind of been a do-it-all individual,” Mellott said back in May after he was selected by the Raiders. “Just a do-it-all kind of guy who’s going to obviously perfect his craft, whatever is expected of me, and do that and more.”
