Fansided

10 defensive players to watch in 2020

By William Schneiderhan

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 15: New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore runs during the third quarter. The New England Patriots play the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 15: New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore runs during the third quarter. The New England Patriots play the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Minkah Fitzpatrick #39 of the Pittsburgh Steelers returns a fumble for a 43 yard touchdown during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Heinz Field on November 10, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Minkah Fitzpatrick #39 of the Pittsburgh Steelers returns a fumble for a 43 yard touchdown during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Heinz Field on November 10, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

7. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Pittsburgh Steelers

Entering the 2019 season, most knew the Miami Dolphins had a bleak season ahead of them. One of those individuals who saw the writing on the wall was safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, and he forced a trade out of town after playing just two games for the Dolphins.

At the time, the price that the Pittsburgh Steelers paid for the second-year defensive back seemed rather high. The package featured the Steelers sending a 2020 first and fifth-round pick, as well as a sixth-round pick in 2021 to the Dolphins for Fitzpatrick and draft compensation.

Any anxieties and uncertainties that anyone had about the price paid quickly evaporated once Fitzpatrick showed up in Pittsburgh. In his first game on the Steelers, he came away with a pick and that was a sign of what was yet to come.

Fitzpatrick was a game-changer at safety for the Steelers. He had a shot at the Defensive Player of the Year award, as he came away with five interceptions and 69 combined tackles. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 79.8, and Pro Football Reference handed him an AV of 19.

Of course, the winner of that award, Stephon Gilmore, had a substantially better year. Regardless, Fitzpatrick demonstrated why he has the potential to be one of the best defensive players in the NFL after his move to the Steelers last year.

Fitzpatrick took a large step in progression last year. This year, it will be exciting to see how much further he can go in year three.

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