Packers: Could Jermaine Johnson be added to Aaron Rodgers trade?

Aaron Rodgers will almost certainly play for the New York Jets this season. When will a trade between the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets be agreed? That’s another question altogether.

Will the Jets include their first-round pick?

That has been one of the main topics among fans of both teams this week.

Well, ESPN’s Rich Cimini came up with a potential solution.

“There’s also the thought that the Packers, in lieu of a first-round pick, could ask for a player who was once graded highly on their draft board,” wrote Cimini.

He then used second-year edge rusher Jermaine Johnson as an example.

It’s an interesting idea, no doubt, and could possibly work for both teams. The Jets don’t have to give up a first-round pick this year, but the Packers do get a first-round talent.

New York selected Johnson with the 26th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Johnson was part of the Jets’ pass-rush rotation as a rookie, mostly playing a backup role.

But it was an encouraging rookie year for Johnson, who made 2.5 sacks, five quarterback hits, three tackles for loss, and a safety.

He showed a lot of potential in year one and has the talent to become an excellent starter.

The Packers need more pass-rush depth, and Johnson could be a perfect complement to Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, and Kingsley Enagbare. It would take the pressure off drafting a pass rusher early, although the Packers could still add more depth on Day 2 or 3.

Johnson was one of the top prospects in last year’s draft.

He was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-ACC in 2021 after making 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss at Florida State.

“Johnson has good size, athleticism, technique, and functional strength while playing the game with tremendous urgency and features a high football IQ,” wrote The Draft Network’s Joe Marino prior to the 2022 NFL Draft.

Johnson ranked ninth in Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 50 prospect rankings for NFL.com.

After entering the draft as one of the best defensive prospects in the class, Johnson put together a promising rookie season.

If the Jets aren’t willing to give up the 13th overall pick in this year’s draft but would consider including Johnson in a trade for Aaron Rodgers, the Packers should make it happen.