The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is technically a draft-centric event. On the surface, it shines a bright spotlight on the prospects vying to become part of the league's rookie crop with interviews, check-ups, and workouts. But in the hallways of the Indianapolis Convention Center (and the fancy steakhouses downtown), negotiations involving veteran players are taking place toward extensions and the occasional trade.
The latter was reported on Wednesday, as the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans agreed on a rare player-for-player swap. Per NFL reporter Tom Pelissero, the Jets decided to trade defensive end Jermaine Johnson II to the Titans for defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat.
Both the Jets and Titans are a long way from contention, which is why each team is picking near the very top of the 2026 NFL Draft order. But the move could hold major implications on how those picks are used, which changes the way things could fall for teams like the Kansas City Chiefs picking a bit later in the top 10.
The Jets were dangling Johnson before last season's trade deadline. The Titans did the same with Sweat. So it's no surprise that these particular players were on the move before a new season began. The teams had already recently traded with each other in a deal for cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. as well. The trade itself isn't the shocker, but the impact is felt all the same.
For the Chiefs, the need for a floor-raising force at defensive end is perhaps the single greatest need on the roster, at least at a premium position. The Chiefs' selection at No. 9 gives them a rare top-10 pick, and there's a weight that comes with this particular choice—that general manager Brett Veach needs to secure an elite investment that he won't otherwise have access to. That's why an edge rusher makes more sense than, say, a running back or tight end.
In particular, Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. stands out as an ideal prospect for the Chiefs, a ferocious pass rusher who could serve as a Brandon Graham-type player for the Chiefs for the next 5 to 10 years. For a team perilously thin on the edges and in need of a serious talent boost with Chris Jones heading toward his twilight years, Bain stands right at the intersection of roster need, safe floor, high ceiling, and positional value.
Of course, the Chiefs need Bain to drop a bit if they're going to be able to draft him, and that becomes a real problem now. The Jets have a serious need on the edge sans Johnson, and yet they already have pass rushers (Will McDonald) who profile like the other top ends available—such as Texas Tech's David Bailey. A defensive-minded head coach like Aaron Glenn would love to have someone like Bain to anchor his front line (and he should).
It's entirely possible the Jets still go with another top defensive prospect. Arvelle Reese or Caleb Downs make sense. Bailey could still go, too. But there's a very clear path laid between Bain and the Jets at No. 2 overall at this stage, and given that Fernando Mendoza is the clear favorite at No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders, it's possible word of the Jets' plans leaks early.
In other words, the Chiefs might learn sooner than later that they're going to look elsewhere for their first premium selection in quite some time.