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Pros and cons of the Steelers trading for Minkah Fitzpatrick

By Brandon Kring

MIAMI, FLORIDA - AUGUST 22: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates after a tackle against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter of the preseason game at Hard Rock Stadium on August 22, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - AUGUST 22: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates after a tackle against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter of the preseason game at Hard Rock Stadium on August 22, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – AUGUST 08: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Miami Dolphins warming up before the preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at Hard Rock Stadium on August 8, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – AUGUST 08: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Miami Dolphins warming up before the preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at Hard Rock Stadium on August 8, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

The cons of landing Fitzpatrick

The biggest con of the deal was obviously losing the first-round pick next draft. First-round picks are very valuable and the Steelers lost Big Ben which could mean a higher pick than fans have grown accustomed to in recent years.

Clearly, the Steelers are making it known they aren’t giving up on the season. Many don’t expect much out of the team and think the Steelers just gave up a potential top ten pick.

While the pick could wind up being a top ten selection, that isn’t all that bad. The Steelers would likely see Sean Davis walk this offseason so they would be looking at safety early regardless and Fitzpatrick can eliminate that need.

If we want to speak in ‘what-ifs’, the Steelers could finish bad enough to be in the top ten, sure. However, they have a lot of confidence in Mason Rudolph and he will get that chance to show he is the guy.

I was not a fan of the trade when I first heard about it but it has since grown on me. The team got a young, controllable defender with first-round pedigree and is, by all accounts, a great teammate and off-field guy.

Big Ben plans to be back in 2020 and the team likely wouldn’t be bad enough to see that pick within range to draft a QB like many fans have brought up about the pick. There are many more pros than cons to the trade as it stands today and how the season shakes out will be the greatest deciding factor along with who is available at the Steelers pick when Miami is on the clock.

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