The New York Jets acquired Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Miami Dolphins and head coach Aaron Glenn is loving what he's seeing from the veteran.
The New York Jets were a walking disaster on defense last season in Year 1 of the Aaron Glenn era.
NYJ became the first team in NFL history not to record a defensive interception and lose five straight games by 23 or more points within a single season.
The Jets will look different defensively this season, as Glenn is the DC and veteran Minkah Fitzpatrick is the leader of the secondary.
NYJ acquired Fitzpatrick from the Miami Dolphins this offseason and Glenn is loving what he's seeing from the defensive playmaker.
"He's extremely smart and he loves football," Glenn said. "And at safety, that's what you're looking for. Look, I've had some good safeties in my career. Early on, I like exactly where he's at."
Fitzpatrick is a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. He enters this season with 21 career interceptions.
"I like moving around," Fitzpatrick said. "I like being able to give the quarterback different looks. I think when you just sit in a high post all game, they know you're back there and they could dial stuff up for you, but they could also avoid you. So, I like being a chess piece."
All signs point toward the Jets missing the playoffs again this season. However, they shouldn't be the laughingstock of the league again after having a strong draft and offseason transaction cycle.
In the 2026 draft, the Jets did pretty well. They took David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq, Omar Cooper Jr., D'Angelo Ponds, Darrell Jackson Jr., Cade Klubnik, Anez Cooper and VJ Payne.
Before the draft, the Jets acquired Geno Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders, Fitzpatrick from the Dolphins and T'Vondre Sweat from the Tennessee Titans and signed Demario Davis and Tim Patrick.
Fitzpatrick and Davis will be tasked with turning the Jets' defense around.
"Not only is he a great football player, he's a great man," Fitzpatrick said about Davis. "I think that's why he's been able to play at the level that he has throughout his career. He's one of those dudes who loves ball, he loves people, he's a very genuine person, very genuine man and he's a guy that has a heart for football and he has a nose for the football as well."
