The New York Jets have made no shortage of splashy moves this offseason, but perhaps none offered better value than acquiring Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The three-time All-Pro arrived in New York via trade for the modest price of a seventh-round draft pick.
In a recent feature highlighting the NFL's five most underappreciated offseason acquisitions, Pro Football Focus included Fitzpatrick alongside several other notable additions around the league.
PFF argued that while expectations remain modest for the Jets entering 2026, the roster is noticeably more talented than it was a season ago. The outlet pointed specifically to New York's decision to acquire Fitzpatrick, calling attention to both the value of the trade and the veteran safety's bounce-back campaign
in 2025.
It's difficult to disagree with the logic. Players with Fitzpatrick's resume rarely become available for such a minimal return, particularly those who have already proven they can perform at an All-Pro level. After an uncharacteristically disappointing 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he returned to form with the Miami Dolphins last year.
According to PFF, his 81.9 overall defensive grade ranked fifth among qualifying safeties. He also became one of only five players at his position to earn grades of at least 77.0 in both coverage and run defense, highlighting the complete skill set that has made him one of the NFL's premier defensive backs throughout his career.
PFF also noted that Fitzpatrick thrived in a more versatile role, particularly when aligned in the slot, an area where his coverage performance improved dramatically from the previous season. That versatility could become one of the Jets' biggest defensive assets.
The acquisition was about fixing a problem. The Jets' defense struggled in several areas throughout 2025, and safety play ranked near the top of the list.
PFF graded New York's safety group 26th overall while assigning it the league's lowest run-defense grade at the position. The unit also experienced issues covering receivers from the slot, another area where Fitzpatrick excelled during his resurgence. Those shortcomings made finding a proven veteran more of a necessity than a luxury.
If Fitzpatrick continues playing at the level he displayed last season, he'll immediately upgrade both the back end of the secondary and the Jets' ability to defend the run.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: PFF confirms what Jets fans knew about Minkah Fitzpatrick addition
