The New York Jets have swung a major move for a position of need just before the legal tampering period begins. Last season, the Jets’ defense suffered greatly on all levels. Safety was one of those struggles, as a focal point of this offseason was to upgrade that position group in a big way. Darren Mougey has done just that by acquiring Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Miami Dolphins.
New York Jets Trade for Star Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick Reunites With Some Familiar Faces
Minkah Fitzpatrick is more than familiar with some parts of the Jets coaching staff. This offseason, the Jets hired Brian Duker to be their new defensive coordinator. Duker was the secondary coach and defensive passing game coordinator for the Fins last season. Along with him, the Jets also hired Ryan Slowik to be the new safeties coach, who was the defensive backs coach and defensive passing game specialist in 2025. These are coaches who had a direct relationship with Fitzpatrick.
Trade: The Miami Dolphins are sending Minkah Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets in exchange for the 2026 seventh-round pick from the Chargers, per ESPN sources.
The Jets will sign Fitzpatrick to a three-year, $40 million deal, per his agent Drew Rosenhaus. pic.twitter.com/zaycxryzMk
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026
Fitzpatrick Gets a Payday
Along with this deal between the Jets and the Dolphins, Minkah Fitzpatrick himself is receiving a new extension as well. His new contract will pay him $40 million over three years, potentially locking him in for the long haul. The $13.3 million APY makes him the 13th-highest-paid safety in football. Fitzpatrick is not quite the same player as he was with the Steelers, but he’s better than the 13th-best at his position.
This payday is certainly earned as well, as Minkah quietly had a nice season in 2025. He had an 81.8 overall defense grade as well as a 78.3 coverage grade according to PFF. He racked up two interceptions, four pass-breakups, 57 tackles, one forced fumble, and one sack. This ability to make plays should automatically improve the Jets’ defense at least a little bit.
Rapid-Fire Thoughts
This move for Minkah Fitzpatrick feels like another great trade for Darren Mougey, who has already become known for swinging good deals. Last season, he acquired Jowon Briggs and Harrison Phillips for pennies on the dollar. They both were great players on the Jets’ incredibly underwhelming defense. He also shipped off Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner for a combined three first-round picks and a second-round pick, even getting Adonai Mitchell back as well.
This is a major upgrade at a position of need for New York after bargain shopping at safety last year with Andre Cisco. The Jets will have to add one more safety, whether it’s in free agency or the draft, though. The contract is also well done. Players like Bryan Cook and Coby Bryant probably would have fetched as much, if not more, on the open market later today. Instead, the Jets get a player already familiar to the coaches for the price of a 7th rounder in Minkah Fitzpatrick. Overall, a great move to start free agency for the Jets.