According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the 49ers were one of the teams that attempted to acquire Jermaine Johnson II from the New York Jets, but refused to pull the trigger due to New York’s asking price for a second-round pick.
Johnson, 26, played collegiately at Independence Community College (2017-18), Georgia (2019-20) and Florida State (2021), earning All-American honors with the Seminoles before the Jets selected him in the first round (No. 26 overall) in the 2022 NFL draft.
In his first four seasons (including a 2024 campaign that was shortened to just two games due to a torn Achilles tendon), Johnson recorded 107 tackles (16 for loss), 23 quarterback hits, 11 sacks, eight passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.
Johnson has one year left on his contract (a fifth-year option currently set for $13.41 million), and a trade to San Francisco would have paired him with his former head coach Robert Saleh, who serves as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator.
Now, San Francisco will have Bryce Huff (week-to-week with an injury), Keion White, Sam Okuayinonu and Robert Beal Jr. on the active roster to run from the edge. They also have Clelin Ferrell and William Bradley-King on the practice squad who could help, but the room won’t see any major reinforcements for the rest of the year.
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