The Jets went into this offseason knowing the defense needed real help, especially on the back end, and they made it a point to bring in veteran pieces through trade and free agency. But the move that stands out most is Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick has bounced through Miami and Pittsburgh in his career, and while he may not be the same player he was at his peak, he still looks like the kind of safety who can change things for a defense that has been short on answers in the secondary. That matters for a Jets team that badly needs more playmaking.
And the early returns at training camp have been hard to ignore. According to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, Fitzpatrick has been the Jets’ best defender so far, showing up with either an interception or a near-interception in just about every practice. He even picked off Smith on the first play of team drills Monday.
“Membou has been the Jets’ best player on offense, and on defense, it’s probably been Fitzpatrick. The Jets haven’t had this caliber of safety since Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye were at their best in 2019. Maybe Fitzpatrick isn’t the same player he was in his prime, but he’s quickly made an impact on the back end, much needed for a group of defensive backs that put together one of the worst statistical seasons in team history last season.
“Fitzpatrick has had either an interception or close to one in just about every practice, including a pick off Smith on the first play of team drills Monday. He always seems to be in the right place, and Glenn is using him all over the formation,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic wrote.
That’s still training camp, and training camp has a way of flattering everybody for a while. But Fitzpatrick making plays this early is still worth paying attention to. Aaron Glenn has made it clear he wants turnover-makers on this defense, and Fitzpatrick is already showing the kind of ball-hawking instincts the Jets were looking for.
For a team that needs takeaways, that’s exactly the kind of start they wanted to see.
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