Dolphins have given unhappy Minkah Fitzpatrick a path out
Minkah Fitzpatrick is unhappy with his role in the Miami Dolphins defense, but the second-year defensive back has been given some light at the end of the tunnel.
After last Sunday’s 59-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Pro Football Talk reported multiple Miami Dolphins wanted out of what is in line to be a season of NBA-style tanking. A name has been put on the idea now, with ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe and Chris Mortensen reporting defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick has been given permission to seek a trade.
It’s important to note the Dolphins are not shopping Fitzpatrick, and their asking price is high.
The 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft, Fitzpatrick had 80 total tackles, nine pass breakups and two interceptions over 16 games as a rookie. He played multiple positions, slot corner, boundary corner, etc, which is part of his value, but he was clearly most effective playing in the slot (53.4 passer rating against). Somehow, the new coaching staff in Miami has struggled to find a proper role for the Alabama product and he’s not been happy about it.
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Fitzpatrick only played 12 snaps in the slot against the Ravens. He also only played 49 of the team’s 77 defensive snaps, while former Patriot Eric Rowe played 72 snaps and another former Patriot Jomal Wiltz got as many snaps as a slot corner as Fitzpatrick did against Baltimore. Head coach Brian Flores went with guys he knows from his time in New England over who the better players actually are, as safety Reshad Jones (32 snaps) and linebacker Raekwon McMillan (22 snaps) also played very little in a blowout loss that further pushed the idea the Dolphins are openly tanking.
Dolphins made Minkah learn six positions this off-season, including two LB spots. This was so simple: He was best slot CB in league last year. Play him there and some boundary. Coaching staff couldn't do the obvious, and now their 2018 first rounder wants to leave
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) September 13, 2019
Miami is right to have a high asking price for Fitzpatrick, reportedly a first-round pick in 2020, but the market for him could be pretty robust anyway. ESPN’s Field Yates has nicely laid out the financial factors for an acquiring team, or lack thereof relative to Fitzpatrick’s talent level.
Notes if Minkah Fitzpatrick were traded:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 13, 2019
* Under contract through 2021 (plus a fifth-year option)
* Base salary/cap hit in 2019-2021: $1.23M, $1.98M and $2.27M
* Just 22 years old
* Can play either safety spot and slot cornerback
* Recorded 80 tackles, 9 PD and 2 INT as a rookie
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A few teams don’t seem to have an urgent need in the secondary. But virtually all of the other 31 teams around the league could make a case internally for giving up a first-round pick to get Fitzpatrick, and the Dolphins have opened the door for one of their best players to get out.