The New York Jets entered the first week of NFL free agency with more than $74 million in cap space. They are seeking veteran leadership for head coach Aaron Glenn after a 3-14 campaign.
But the Jets decided to remove the suspense, at least at one key position. The team pulled the trigger on a trade with a division rival before free agency officially arrived.
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ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter reported Monday that New York acquired All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Miami Dolphins.
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“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,” Schefter posted on X.
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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, 29, is an eight-year pro who made his second stop in Miami in 2025. He started 14 games and recorded 82 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack and an interception. The Dolphins picked him 11th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft before trading him to the Pittsburgh Steelers early in the 2019 campaign.
Fitzpatrick is a three-time first-team All-Pro who has made five Pro Bowl appearances, the most recent in 2024. During his six seasons with the Steelers, Fitzpatrick racked up 516 tackles, 18 interceptions (three returned for touchdowns) and six tackles for loss.
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Miami Dolphins free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (29) tackles Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) in the first quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
According to Schefter, the Jets signed Fitzpatrick, who is represented by agent Drew Rosenhaus, to a three-year $40 million contract. Fitzpatrick was set to enter the final year of a four-year, $73 million deal with the Dolphins.
The trade for Fitzpatrick fulfills Jets general manager Darren Mougey’s desire to add veterans to the Jets roster.
“Starting in free agency, feel really good about the cap space we have,” Mougey said at the NFL combine, per the team website. “If you look at our roster right now, we got one of the younger rosters in the NFL if you exclude all the free agents and RFAs. An opportunity to add some veteran players, some veteran leadership at certain positions.”
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