Jets general manager Darren Mougey did not wait for free agency to open to begin making moves.
The Jets agreed to a trade for Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, a source confirmed. The trade cannot be finalized until Wednesday when the league year opens. The Jets are sending Miami a seventh-round pick, which was originally the Chargers’.
The Jets will give Fitzpatrick a three-year, $40 million deal when the trade is complete.
Fitzpatrick, 29, fits what the Jets are looking for this offseason. With head coach Aaron Glenn taking over the defensive play-calling, they are looking to add some veterans to the defense to help turn over that unit.
Fitzpatrick, a New Jersey native, has played eight years for the Dolphins and Steelers. He started 14 games for Miami last year and had one interception. He only has two interceptions in his last three seasons after having six in 2022.
Fitzpatrick is a five-time Pro Bowler, including in 2024, and was first-team All-Pro three times, the last time coming in 2022.
Safety is a position of need for the Jets and they may still add to the group. Both Andre Cisco and Tony Adams are expected to depart in free agency. Malachi Moore showed promise as a rookie but the Jets may see him as a backup.
New Jets defensive coordinator Brian Duker was the secondary coach last year in Miami, so he and Fitzpatrick have familiarity.
Fitzpatrick was a first-round draft pick by the Dolphins in 2018 after a standout career at Alabama. The Dolphins traded him in 2019 to the Steelers, where he spent six seasons before getting traded back to Miami before last season.
