The Miami Dolphins selected Minkah Fitzpatrick with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Here’s all you need to know about Fitzpatrick, including our grade.
While there was some chance that the Miami Dolphins could have gone with a quarterback here, Miami actually made a fantastic selection here at No. 11. They landed Alabama Crimson Tide standout defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, making their secondary instantly better.
Strengths
Every team is looking for playmakers on defense and the 6-foot-1, 201-pound product from the University of Alabama certainly fits the bill. In three seasons with the Crimson Tide, Fitzpatrick picked off a total of nine passes and returned four of those thefts for touchdowns. His big year came in 2016, when he totaled 66 tackles, six interceptions (two for scores) and 1.5 sacks while totaling seven passes defensed.
Recently on “The Paul Finebaum Show,” Mel Kiper Jr. called the versatile performer “one of the smartest defensive backs you’ll ever find.” The two-time All-American saw action at a variety of positions in the secondary during his three years at Alabama.
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Weaknesses
Via NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, an AFC executive was quoted as saying that Fitzpatrick is “not quite on the same level of (New York Jets) Jamal Adams when it comes to changing the entire culture of a locker room, but he is just as talented and probably more versatile.” But that doesn’t mean that the young performer doesn’t have his flaws.
Perhaps one of his biggest strengths — being versatile — is also a weakness. Fitzpatrick has the chops to play at corner or safety, but if he was utterly dominant at one, there wouldn’t be a conversation about where he should go. The coaching staff will need to make its decision and commit quickly.
Grade
Fitzpatrick could have gone as high as No. 4 to the Cleveland Browns. Miami has a lot of holes, but Fitzpatrick certainly makes the Dolphins secondary better. If he’s anything like Landon Collins, this could be a huge get for the ‘Phins.
Grade: A