Jets ready to take a defensive step forward in 2026 after Darren Mougey's trades

New York Jets GM Darren Mougey didn't even wait for the legal tampering period to start before making his first big move of the day, agreeing to acquire safety Minkah Fitzpatrick from the division rival Miami Dolphins in exchange for a seventh-round pick. Mougey has developed a bit of a thing for trades like this.

There is a very good chance that one-third of the Jets' starting defense is acquired in this same fashion. Mougey clearly is of the mindset that late Day 3 picks have much less of a chance of becoming established starters than those who have already started to realize their potential.

As noted by Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, Fitzpatrick joins defensive linemen Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. in Mougey's menagerie of trade acquisitions, and the most valuable asset surrendered to acquire any one of these players is a sixth-round pick.

Even though Mougey has not yet shown he can build a winning team, he has proven to be someone who can identify talent on teams across the league and bring them in without sacrificing anything more than some Day 3 picks. That trait will serve the Jets well.

Darren Mougey keeps up solid trade work after Minkah Fitzpatrick move

Fitzpatrick, who graded out as the seventh-best safety in the NFL via Pro Football Focus, was signed to a three-year contract worth $40 million. That AAV puts him right in line with other above-average safeties like Tennessee's Amani Hooker and Denver's Talanoa Hufanga.

Mougey's entire starting defensive line may be built on savvy trades. Phillips and Briggs were acquired before the start of the 2025 season, while nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat came to New York as a result of the deal that sent edge rusher Jermaine Johnson to the Tennessee Titans.

Being able to spend money wisely on the open market will be huge for Mougey and the Jets. After the Justin Fields flop and Brandon Stephens contract in the early stages of 2025 free agency, the Jets mostly went the cheap route by signing veterans to one-year prove-it deals. A more earnest spending spree may be called for.

While Mougey will need to eventually find a quarterback to save his job, his ability to bring in quality starters via the trade market might be his secret superpower. A few more moves like this and the Jets may actually have something cooking.