The Miami Dolphins have been open to trading five-time Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, and there has been interest from multiple teams, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Miami already traded edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday morning for a third-round pick. Star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle could be on the move, too. With general manager Chris Grier fired last week after the team’s 2-7 start, it seems to be a fire sale in Miami.
With the Steelers trading Fitzpatrick to Miami this offseason, a reunion in Pittsburgh is not possible unless Fitzpatrick is cut by the Dolphins. an NFL rule states a team cannot trade for a player they previously traded away until at least two full NFL seasons have passed.
The trade between the Steelers and Dolphins on June 30 was a rare swap that sent All-Pros both ways. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey was a three-time All-Pro in 2017, 2020 and 2021. Fitzpatrick was a also a three-time, first-team All-Pro, in 2019, 2020 and 2022.
Fitzpatrick was initially drafted by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Alabama. He was traded to the Steelers, for their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, along with an exchange of day three draft picks, in 2019.
Fitzpatrick made an immediate impact in Pittsburgh. He started 88 games for the Steelers over the last six seasons.
He was one of the team’s best defensive players and a defensive leader, but he had less of an impact over the last few seasons. Fitzpatrick led the NFL with six interceptions in 2022, and had 11 over his first three seasons with the Steelers. He also had three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries from 2019-21. Over his first four seasons, he had 24 splash plays over 51 games.
Over the last two seasons, he had just one interception, no forced fumbles and no fumble recoveries over 27 games.
Fitzpatrick has recorded 50 combined tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery, and five passes defended in nine games with Miami this season.
Ramsey has been everything that the Steelers expected. Head coach Mike Tomlin gave Ramsey high praise after Sunday’s 27-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts. With the Steelers dealing with a slew of injuries at safety, Ramsey stepped up and performed well at the free safety position.
“I can’t say enough about Jalen. He does anything and everything we require him to do,” Tomlin said. “We needed him to play exclusively free safety today. He did and did it at a high level. I’m glad he’s on our team.”