Three Trade Partners Who Should Be Kicking Down the Dolphins' Door for Minkah Fitzpatrick
The Miami Dolphins may be having one of the biggest fire sales in NFL history, cutting veterans left and right and reportedly shopping one of their best defensive players, Minkah Fitzpatrick. As reported by Fox Sports insider Jordan Schultz, Fitzpatrick is indeed on the trade block. Dealing him away before June 1 would incur almost $13 million in dead money, but would save the Dolphins just under $6 million in 2026 cap space, and $9 million in 2027.
Three teams stand out as prime fits for Fitzpatrick:
Commanders: With Jayden Daniels' rookie contract window open, the Commanders can capitalize on this opportunity with a trade for Fitzpatrick. Despite a disappointing 2025 season, the Commanders stuck with Dan Quinn as their head coach. Jayden Daniels' injuries are to blame for Washington's regression, but the defense also got old and bad fast. Armed with $74.5 million in cap room, the Commanders can shell out plenty of money to take on Fitzpatrick's deal, which would cost $15.6 million this year, per OverTheCap.com. Assuming Daniels can stay healthy and Washington finds reinforcements via the draft and free agency, expectations should be high for the team. Fitzpatrick would be a big boost to the Commanders' reigning 32nd-ranked defense.
See AlsoDolphins Trade Down Strategy in 2026 NFL Draft? Breaking Down the Rumors and ImplicationsLas Vegas Raiders Hire Matt Robinson as Safeties Coach | NFL Coaching NewsHow Will Stein is Transforming Kentucky Football: Recruiting, CFP Dreams, and the FutureAaron Glenn's Sleepy Moment: Why It's Not a Big DealBengals: As the NFL division's resident expert on all things Bengals, it's clear that Cincinnati has struggled with the safety position since Jessie Bates left in 2023. Free agency could change that, but history says probably not. Fitzpatrick used to be the enemy when he played for the Steelers. You bet Who Dey Nation would welcome the former AFC North rival with open arms if the Bengals front office actually got bold to land a premier defensive talent. Cincinnati is actually pretty set at cornerback with DJ Turner and Dax Hill on the outside. Jordan Battle is a passable starter at safety. Rather than trying to outbid teams for a free-agent safety, the Bengals could ensure they get a quality player in Fitzpatrick for, say, a fourth-round pick and change?
Raiders: With the second-most cap space and the first-most prestigious draft capital in the league, the Raiders should be a strong contender for Fitzpatrick. New head coach Klint Kubiak is fresh off a Super Bowl win as Seattle's offensive coordinator, and will have a No. 1 overall pick in Fernando Mendoza to work with. Not only would the Raiders pony up for a Fitzpatrick contract extension once he's a free agent in 2027, but in pulling off this trade, they could show how serious they are about winning. It'd be a big gesture to convince Maxx Crosby to stick around amid persistent trade speculation. It's no secret that Las Vegas needs help at the second and third levels of its defense to better complement the havoc Crosby wreaks up front on his own. Having Jeremy Chinn and Fitzpatrick as interchangeable box safety/slot players sure would go a long way toward achieving that.
But here's where it gets controversial...
While these three teams stand out as prime fits for Fitzpatrick, it's important to note that the Dolphins may not be willing to trade him away. New Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan may be hesitant to ship Fitzpatrick off to NFL Siberia if he can help it. Additionally, Fitzpatrick's appeal as a destination may be limited, as he may not be the top priority for teams looking to bolster their secondary.
And this is the part most people miss...
Fitzpatrick's value as a trade partner may be underestimated. While his cap hit may be high, his impact on the field and his leadership qualities could make him a valuable asset for any team. Teams may be willing to take on his contract in exchange for his services, especially if they see him as a long-term solution to their defensive woes.
So, what do you think?
Do you agree with these three trade partners as prime fits for Fitzpatrick? Or do you have a different team in mind that could benefit from his services? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
