The Miami Dolphins’ rebuild continues apace.
On the same morning that they declared their intent to release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with a post-June 1 designation, the Dolphins agreed to send star defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick courtesy of the Los Angeles Chargers, according to ESPN.
Fitzpatrick will sign a new three-year, $40 million contract with New York in conjunction with the deal. He was set to enter the final year of his contract with a $15.6 million base salary, but now, he will sign a deal that places him in the middle tier of the safety market, with an average annual value that ranks 13th at the position, according to Over the Cap.
Miami has already cut ties this offseason with Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Alec Ingold (who signed with the Chargers over the weekend) and Jason Sanders. The Dolphins are entering a new phase under general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. They are clearly preparing to rework the roster over the next couple of years as they get out from under the dead money they’ll take on after releasing Tagovailoa.
The Jets, meanwhile, acquire one of the league’s best hybrid defensive backs at a very low cost. Fitzpatrick plays all over the field, having lined up for 345 snaps in the slot, 251 as a deep safety and 191 as a box safety last season, according to Pro Football Focus. He should help a defense that last year finished 25th in yards allowed and 31st in points allowed under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn.
