4 Salary cap-friendly players Jets can send Packers in Aaron Rodgers trade
By Paul Bretl
Packers Trade Target: Jermaine Johnson – Edge
Need for Packers: Adding more edge depth is a must for the Packers. Once Rashan Gary went down with an injury, Green Bay was very inconsistent at generating regular pressure on the quarterback. With this being a heavily rotated position that oftentimes uses four players over the course of a game, even with Gary back in the mix, the Packers’ depth has to improve, but without him, as he works his way back from injury, the only players that can be counted on for Week 1 are Preston Smith and Kingsley Enagbare.
Stats to know: Johnson was the Jets’ first-round pick in 2022 and someone prior to the draft that many thought could be a top-10 selection. Johnson was on the field for 312 snaps as a rookie, totaling 14 pressures and three sacks, according to PFF ($$). For what it’s worth, he also graded out decently as a run-blocker, an area where the current Green Bay edge rushers can improve.
Salary Cap Impact: Like Ruckert, Johnson still has three years remaining on his rookie deal, and the Packers would inherit a relatively low cap hit of just $1.299 million this season. At most, Johnson will earn $2.48 million in 2025, and as a first-round pick, he comes with a fifth-year option as well.
Why the Jets would be willing to include Johnson: Sending the Packers a former first-round pick could be how the Jets get out of sending their 2023 first-round pick to the Packers. In addition to that, Carl Lawson, Bryce Huff, Jacob Martin, Michael Clemons, and John Franklin-Myers are all other options that the Packers have at edge rusher. ESPN’s Rich Cimini, who covers the Jets, recently suggested that Johnson could be a part of a trade package.
Why the Jets would not want to trade Johnson: As a former first-round pick that many believed to be a top-10 talent, the Jets simply might not want to give up on a player of that caliber who also plays a premier position so early on in his career.