Why the Minkah Report Was Totally Predictable

The Miami Dolphins officially released three veterans this week, but they're obviously not done with their roster reconstruction.

And any list of the remaining players on the roster who might or likely will be moved has to include Minkah Fitzpatrick because of his combination of age, market value and fit for a team that's going to get younger and likely will be worse before it gets better.

So the Wednesday afternoon report from NFL insider Jordan Schultz that the Dolphins have had trade discussions regarding the five-time Pro Bowl selection really should have come as no surprise.

Fitzpatrick, whom the Dolphins re-acquired last summer when they sent mercurial cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers, stands out as a veteran on this Dolphins roster who could bring something tangible in a trade beyond getting rid of a bad contract.

After restructuring his contract following the trade, Fitzpatrick has a $18.8 million cap number for 2026, after the Dolphins gave him a signing bonus of more than $16 million.

His base salary for next season is $15.6 million, which might be a bit high for a rebuilding team, but certainly not for a team with playoff aspirations that could use a player of Fitzpatrick's ability.

GOOD MOVE FOR BOTH PARTIES

From Fitzpatrick's standpoint, it's not a stretch to suggest he likely would welcome a trade because he's staring at a second major rebuilding project as a member of the Dolphins, and he didn't have much of an appetite for the first one in 2019.

While this may not have been the sole or even main reason he wanted out early that season — his role on defense and his relationship with then-coach Brian Flores also were factors — it certainly contributed to his wishes.

Fitzpatrick is seven years older and probably not in the mood to go through growing pains while the Dolphins' new regime of Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley establishes itself.

So this clearly is a case of a trade maybe being the best scenario for all involved.

Fitzpatrick had, by all accounts, a solid season in 2025, but he also wasn't a difference-maker on a young and revamped defense.

It's possible he again would be wasted on the 2026 defense.

But he could make a difference for a contender, like he did with Pittsburgh after the Dolphins traded him after two games in 2019 in exchange for a 2020 first-round pick that became the 18th overall that year and was used on tackle Austin Jackson.

Now that he's older, Fitzpatrick won't fetch another first-round pick in a trade, but maybe a Day 2 pick isn't out of the question, like a third-round pick or even a second-round pick if the Dolphins throw in something like a fourth- or fifth-round choice.

That, quite frankly, would be of more value to the Dolphins than having him on a roster that likely won't be producing a ton of wins immediately.

There's a small salary-cap component to all this, with the Dolphins saving almost $6 million of cap space with a trade, but this would be more about doing what's best for both parties.

Now, having discussions doesn't automatically mean that Fitzpatrick will be traded, but it's clearly a distinct possibility, as should have been obvious from the start.

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