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Jets' $40 Million Man Already Proving His Worth at Camp
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The New York Jets are expecting far more from their defense in 2026 under head coach Aaron Glenn, a former defensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions. Last season, the Jets allowed the second-most total points in the league (29.6 per game), the fourth-most rushing yards (139.5 per game), and the eighth-most total yards (355.6 per game). At the trade deadline, they also dealt away arguably their two best defenders, All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
Still, the Jets' defense heading into 2026 already looks improved, headlined by No. 2 overall pick David Bailey, rookie second-rounder D'Angelo Ponds, veteran All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis, and All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick — who has already been turning heads in training camp.
Fitzpatrick was traded from the Miami Dolphins in March and signed a new three-year, $40 million extension upon arriving in New York. During Monday's practice, he intercepted a pass from quarterback Geno Smith — the first interception of 11-on-11 drills all camp. That alone is a welcome sight for a Jets team that became the first in NFL history to go an entire season without recording a single interception last year.
After practice, Glenn offered high praise for his new $40 million safety. "He's extremely smart, and he loves football, and at safety, that's what you're looking for," Glenn said. "Look, I've had some good safeties in my career. Early on, I like exactly where he's at."
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Fitzpatrick was originally selected 11th overall by the Dolphins in the 2018 draft before being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers early in the 2019 season, where his career took off. Across six seasons in Pittsburgh, he earned five Pro Bowl selections and three first-team All-Pro nods. In 2022, he led the league with six interceptions, adding 96 combined tackles and 11 pass deflections. Over his career, he's totaled 21 interceptions, tied for the ninth-most in the league since 2018.
Fitzpatrick is a hard-hitting safety with a nose for the football, capable of lining up all over the field. He's expected to make an immediate impact on a defense in need of a turnaround in 2026. Glenn, himself a former cornerback, is entering what could be a make-or-break season for his job security — and as a defensive-minded head coach, that side of the ball will be under particular scrutiny to show improvement this year.
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