Jets' Minkah Fitzpatrick trade gives them their best safety in almost a decade

After a historic lack of turnovers in Aaron Glenn's first season, New York Jets GM Darren Mougey has come out swinging as he tries to fix their lack of defensive talent by trading for former All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

In a rare intra-division deal with the Miami Dolphins, the Jets acquired Fitzpatrick for a 2026 seventh-round pick via the Los Angeles Chargers. New York plans to sign Fitzpatrick to a three-year, $40 million contract extension that puts him on the fringes of the Top 10 across the NFL at his position.

Mougey has identified safety as perhaps the team's biggest area of need, and rather than wait for free agency to start, Mougey has taken a starter away from a division rival while giving up a pick that likely would not have been used to select a long-term contributor.

Jets acquire Minkah Fitzpatrick in trade with Dolphins

Fitzpatrick, who went to high school in Old Bridge, New Jersey, has plenty of connections with this new staff. Defensive coordinator Brian Duker and safeties coach Ryan Slowik were both part of Miami's staff last season, and both of them have backgrounds in safety development.

Fitzpatrick, who will turn 30 in November, is fresh off making earning Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pro nods in a five-year span. Even in a year without accolades in Miami, Fitzpatrick was graded as Pro Football Focus' seventh-best safety in the league.

The Jets were positioned as a team that was going to spend a ton of money on defensive backs in some form or fashion, as they were connected to free agent safeties like Kansas City's Bryan Cook, Indianapolis' Nick Cross, and Chicago's Jaquan Brisker. Fitzpatrick can be just as effective in 2026.

Fitzpatrick, who has intercepted 21 passes in his eight-year career, is not only a wily veteran who can help instill some leadership to a very young team, but he is one of the best turnover generators the Jets have had in years. The Jets' new contract will pay him close to what the Tennessee Titans gave to Amani Hooker.

Even as the Jets plan for a fairly milquetoast free agency period, Mougey knew he needed to make one big move in the secondary. After years of terrible safety play, the Jets have now brought in a player who is immediately one of the best on that side of the ball for next to nothing.