Dolphins exploring trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick

Though it’s currently unclear which teams the Dolphins have held talks with, Fitzpatrick will certainly have his fair share of suitors around the league.

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The 5x Pro Bowler will be an unrestricted free agent in 2027, giving championship-contending teams the opportunity to pounce on his services for one season for $18 million. The Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings are notable two teams who need a safety this offseason, but given Fitzpatrick’s versatility, any team interested in a defensive back will surely do their due diligence.

Fitzpatrick’s history with the Dolphins is a complicated one.

In 2018, the Dolphins used the 11th overall pick to select Fitzpatrick in the first round of the draft. However, after just one season with the team, Fitzpatrick was traded to Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019. The Dolphins were entering a rebuild, and snapped at the opportunity to let Fitzpatrick leave for a 2020 1st-round pick (used on Austin Jackson), 2020 5th-round pick, 2021 6th-round pick. Fitzpatrick reportedly also butted heads with former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, which could have been another reason for his departure.

Nonetheless, both Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins moved on—until last offseason, when the Dolphins traded for Fitzpatrick in a move that sent tight end Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh. Now, as the Dolphins enter into another rebuild (given the exits of key veteran players over the past few days), Fitzpatrick is once again on the trading block.