Among the New York Jets’ 10 additions since free agency kicked off, the acquisition of safety Dane Belton is a value-driven, intriguing move.
At 25 years old, Belton has flashed tremendous upside since entering the NFL and has the potential to be a real difference-maker for the Jets in 2026.
“I do everything,” Belton said, per the Jets’ official website. “I make plays on the ball. That’s kind of my signature, getting the ball and being able to do that for this team will be huge. And just have fun and play good football.”
Despite making just 22 starts across his four NFL seasons, Belton has consistently found ways to make an impact. As he stated, the safety has a knack for making plays on the ball.
Throughout his career, Belton has logged six interceptions, four forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries.
Beyond that, he is also very versatile.
Last season alone, Belton lined up all over the secondary, spending time at free safety while also logging snaps in the box and even kicking inside to slot corner when needed. That flexibility gives the Jets several different ways to deploy the Iowa product, especially in sub-packages.
He is also a valuable contributor on special teams, where he was one of the Giants’ most reliable players on that unit while earning a solid 71.6 grade from PFF on that unit.
Overall, Dane Belton fits the bill of another excellent value add by general manager Darren Mougey, who has the potential to be a game-changer within the New York Jets secondary in 2026.