FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets addressed a major need in their secondary before the start of free agency on Monday, acquiring five-time Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Jets will send a 2026 seventh-round pick from the Chargers to the Dolphins, sources told ESPN.
Fitzpatrick, 29, will sign a three-year, $40 million contract with New York, agent Drew Rosenhaus told Schefter. The trade can’t be processed until the start of the league year on Wednesday.
He had one year, $15.6 million (non-guaranteed) remaining on his contract with Miami.
This is the second offseason trade for the Jets, who are looking to rebuild their defense. Two weeks ago, they acquired nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for defensive end Jermaine Johnson.
The Jets became the first team in NFL history to go an entire season without an interception. Fitzpatrick, a 2018 first-round pick of the Dolphins, has 21 career interceptions. His ball production has tailed off recently — only two interceptions in the past three seasons.
In 2025, Fitzpatrick started 14 games. He made one interception, 82 tackles and six passes defensed.
Fitzpatrick has been named to five Pro Bowls, one in his first stint with the Dolphins and four with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Dolphins reacquired him in 2025.
There is familiarity with Fitzpatrick. Two new members of the Jets’ coaching staff, defensive coordinator Brian Duker and safeties coach Ryan Slowik, came from Miami.
The Jets are overhauling their safety position. Former starters Andre Cisco and Tony Adams are free agents and aren’t expected to return. They also have second-year safety Malachi Moore, who started 14 games last season. Like Fitzpatrick, Moore is an Alabama product.
The Dolphins drafted Fitzpatrick in 2018 with the 11th pick but traded him to the Steelers a year later because of a dispute with then-coach Brian Flores over his position and role on the team. During his six seasons in Pittsburgh, he was named to five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams.
He signed a four-year, $73.6 million extension with the Steelers in 2022, which made him the league’s highest-paid safety.
In eight NFL seasons, he has 690 tackles, 21 career interceptions and six forced fumbles.
ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques contributed to this report.
