The Miami Dolphins plan to build for the future just got a little brighter on Monday night. While the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets were squaring off on Monday Night Football, Adam Schefter stole the spotlight by reporting the news that Minkah Fitzpatrick had been dealt from Miami to Pittsburgh in exchange for a first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
TRADE: Steelers are trading a 2020 first-round pick to the Dolphins for DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 17, 2019
This news is somewhat surprising considering earlier today it was announced that Pittsburgh starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was lost for the season due to an elbow injury. The Steelers will be going forward with Mason Rudolph under center, and many thought that Pittsburgh would take this opportunity to rebuild after an 0-2 start. After all, Rudolph saw the first action of his career just this past Sunday against Seattle. However, the decision to trade for Fitzpatrick means that Pittsburgh’s front office believes that it can make the postseason in 2019.
Fitzpatrick had fallen out of favor in Miami after expressing frustration with his role. The Dolphins had used the defensive back as both a cornerback and a safety, and he requested a trade following Miami’s blowout loss to New England yesterday. Pittsburgh could use the help in the secondary as the Steelers have been shredded by New England and Seattle in the first two weeks.
Dolphins now have three first-round picks in 2020: theirs, the Texans’ and now the Steelers’ in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 17, 2019
The trade means that Miami is positioned to rebuild quickly. Miami now has three first round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft after dealing Laremy Tunsil and now Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Dolphins made the decision to tear it down and start over this offseason, and the Fitzpatrick trade is further indication of that philosophy. Fitzpatrick was taken in the first round of last year’s draft, but Miami was ready to move on after he expressed dissatisfaction with the direction of the franchise.
— Xavien Howard (@Iamxavienhoward) September 17, 2019
While the move might be a shrewd one for Miami’s future, it means the present is pretty bleak. Cornerback Xavien Howard probably expressed the feelings of many in the locker room with the above tweet after the news reverberated around the NFL.
H/T ESPN
