2026 NFL Trade Grades

I’ll be keeping track of the various NFL trades that occur throughout 2026 on this page (most recent first). For every trade, I will list the assets each team received, analyze the trade, and provide trade grades for each team. Unless a specific trade is really notable, I’ll only be grading trades involving players, not just draft picks. For free agent signings and extensions, see this page.

February 26, 2025

Titans Trade DT T’Vondre Sweat to Jets for DE Jermaine Johnson:
This year’s first trade comes even earlier than last year’s! And it’s a rare player-for-player trade. Making this deal even more unique, it involves two players who weren’t cut candidates at the end of the preseason; both teams genuinely liked their linemen but had differing needs. Sweat was a favorite of mine as an elite run-stuffing nose tackle, while Johnson is the exact opposite: a pure edge rusher with length and speed. New York traded Quinnen Williams away and thus needed a new DT. Sweat isn’t the same style in the passing game, but he’s a definite upgrade over what they have now. Tennessee never replaced Harold Landry when he departed in free agency, and with the excellent Jeffery Simmons inside, an edge rusher was a more pressing need. Johnson fills that hole, but he’s still finding his way back from an ACL injury that limited him last year, and he has only 1 more year left on his contract. I think the Jets won this despite giving up the player at a more premium position. That’s because NYJ is almost certain to select an edge rusher with the #2 draft pick, creating a glut at the position. Tennessee got a bit more upside, but their risk is greater as well. It’s close, and both teams are better overall, which is what you like to see.
Grades: Titans: B+; Jets: A-