Once seen as a coup for the Steelers, the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade is starting to look more like an overpay and better value for the Dolphins
The Steelers made a very rare trade last season, as they sent their first, fifth, and 2021 sixth to the Dolphins in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick, a fourth, and a 2021 seventh. Considering the Steelers had yet to win a game and they had lost franchise QB, Ben Roethlisberger, for the season due to an elbow injury, the trade was a little puzzling. The team had a shot at a top ten pick in the draft, and the fact they were giving it away for a DB who was already complaining about his role a year into his career seemed like a large risk.
The Steelers made the Dolphins seem silly though, as Fitzpatrick quickly turned this defense around and had a stellar year. He recorded an impressive five interceptions during the season, and while the takeaways were nice, he completely locked down the deep portion of the field, making any deep pass a risk with him on patrol. He seemed to be almost everywhere when you needed him, and his play as a whole put him in the talks of an elite safety going into the 2020 season.
Yet here we are talking about Fitzpatrick negatively because he hasn’t done much to warrant any of the praise, he earned last year. Simply put, this trade isn’t a homerun anymore, and frankly, it could end up being seen as a victory for the Dolphins if his play continues to dip. All of this considered, here are the reasons the Steelers are no longer winning the Fitzpatrick trade.