The Miami Dolphins appear ready to move on from former All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Reports indicate that the Dolphins are aggressively reshaping the roster, having already released high-profile veterans like Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb. With Miami entering a clear rebuilding phase and prioritizing long-term financial flexibility, the 29-year-old safety has been placed on the trade block. It is a rare opportunity for a team in dire need of safety help to take advantage of this South Beach fire sale.
Fitzpatrick’s career résumé is impressive, boasting three first-team All-Pro selections and five Pro Bowl nods. Over his career, he has amassed 690 total tackles, 60 pass breakups, and six forced fumbles. He also has an impressive 21 interceptions, including five that he took to the house, albeit not in the same season, but still, that’s pretty fantastic.
The primary strength of Fitzpatrick lies in his range and ball-hawking instincts, which allow him to erase mistakes in the secondary and take away the deep half of the field. He is a versatile defender who can play deep safety, drop into the slot, or even contribute in the box, having recorded 82 tackles last season. His ability to diagnose plays before they happen makes him a problem for opposing quarterbacks who think they have an open window.
Miami is looking to trade Fitzpatrick because they are in rebuild mode, prioritizing draft capital over expensive veteran contracts. While Fitzpatrick is set to earn a base salary of $15.6 million in 2026, the Dolphins are looking to exchange that cap hit for picks that fit their new agenda, especially as the safety turns 30 this year. They are essentially treating their roster like a garage sale where everything must go, with interested buyers encouraged to make an offer.
The Cowboys should find this situation familiar, as they made a nearly identical move with the Dolphins in 2019 to acquire defensive end Robert Quinn. In that trade, the Cowboys landed a premium pass rusher for the low price of a sixth-round pick, while also benefiting from a renegotiated deal where Quinn took a pay cut to facilitate the move. Quinn rewarded his new team with 11.5 sacks that season, proving that these transition periods can offer up some great values. If Jerry Jones plays his cards right, he could land another 29-year-old former All-Pro who again appears to be another big fish out of water.
Fitzpatrick would be a great fit for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who has explicitly stated that scheme flexibility is the core principle of his defense. Parker’s system thrives on versatile defensive backs who can rotate through different front structures and coverages, a role Fitzpatrick has mastered throughout his career. Adding a player of his caliber would allow Parker to get creative with his 4-2-5 nickel packages without sacrificing run support.
Another incentive for the Cowboys to make this move is that finding a starting safety might be difficult for them this year. They’re not likely to land collegiate star safety Caleb Downs, who stands a great chance of coming off the board before the Cowboys pick at 12. There isn’t another college safety worthy of the 12th or 20th pick. And the options available during their next pick, 112th overall, aren’t likely to offer them a starting-caliber safety. The team either makes a move to acquire a veteran or comes to terms that the safety position will be an area of concern heading into the new season.
The Cowboys have a nice opportunity to upgrade their secondary with a proven, three-time All-Pro who is currently available due to Miami’s organizational reset. By taking advantage of the Dolphins’ desire for draft picks and salary relief, Dallas can bolster a secondary that has struggled with consistency in recent years. The move is a low-risk, high-reward play that aligns perfectly with the vision of the new coaching staff. The Cowboys should take a serious look at what it would take to acquire Fitzpatrick, and if the right deal comes up, be ready reel him in.
Would you make a play for Minkah Fitzpatrick?