No one's closing shop yet, apparently.
The day after losing their franchise quarterback for the season, the Steelers have acquired cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Dolphins in a trade that sends their 2020 first-round NFL Draft pick to Miami.
The Dolphins also get a fifth-round pick in 2020 and a sixth-round pick in 2021. The Steelers receive a 2020 fourth-round pick and a 2021 seventh-round selection.
Fitzpatrick, 22, was Miami's first-round pick last summer and 11th overall, but he took early issue with how his coach, Brian Flores, was using him in multiple positions in the defensive secondary and demanded a trade after the Dolphins' opening 59-10 loss to the Ravens. The team gave permission to his agent, Joel Segal, to contact other teams and help arrange a trade.
Fitzpatrick has primarily been playing free safety for the Dolphins this season, but also can play in the slot, where the Steelers have had issues. The Steelers allowed the second-most completions and fifth-most yardage in 2018 to slot receivers, then allowed 15 receptions and 270 yards and three touchdowns to the Patriots in a season-opening loss to the Patriots. Sunday, Seahawks' slot receiver Tyler Lockett had 10 receptions for 79 yards.
#Dolphins cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick (@minkfitz_21) was among the top cornerbacks in the league from the slot last season
- 47.6 completion % against✅
- 49.7 passer rating against✅
- 1.00 yards allowed per coverage snap✅#FinsUp pic.twitter.com/IWAvt5DzIF
— PFF MIA Dolphins (@PFF_Dolphins) August 5, 2019
Starting free safety Sean Davis also has dealt with myriad injuries already this season, suffering finger, ankle and shoulder issues that have forced him out of action. His latest is a torn labrum suffered in Sunday's loss to the Seahawks. It's not considered a season-ending injury, but it could land Davis on injured reserve with a designation to return to make room for Fitzpatrick on the roster. Davis is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2019 season.
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— Terrell Edmunds (@rell_island6) September 17, 2019
Fitzpatrick, a former Alabama star, appeared in all 16 games in 2018, starting 11, making 80 tackles with two interceptions and a touchdown while breaking up nine passes. He has 11 tackles in the Dolphins' first two games this season, forcing one fumble and recovering another.
The Steelers will now be without their first and third-round picks in the 2020 draft. The Steelers traded their first and second-round picks in 2019 and their third-round selection in 2020 to the Broncos to move up 10 spots to select inside linebacker Devin Bush earlier this year.
The trade gives the Steelers three former first-round draft picks in their secondary. Strong safety Terrell Edmunds was the team's top selection in 2018, while cornerback Joe Haden was Cleveland's first-round pick in 2010.
Fitzpatrick has two years remaining after this season on his rookie deal, plus an option year for 2022. He will cost the Steelers just $1.08 $1.975 and $2.7 million in the next three seasons. The Dolphins are responsible for the remainder of the $10 million signing bonus he received as a rookie in 2018.
The Dolphins now own three first-round picks in the 2020 draft, their own and those of the Steelers and Texans. They also have two first-round picks in 2021.
LOLLEY'S VIEW
This is a great deal for the Steelers and completely out of character. But they're getting a good, young defensive back who can play in the slot, on the outside or at safety. And they're getting him for just $5.7 million over the next three seasons with an option for a fourth season.
This is a no-lose situation. And it shows they have confidence in two things: First, they believe they can still compete with Mason Rudolph at quarterback. Second, they trust that Ben Roethlisberger will be back and ready to play at a high level in 2020.
But it does leave the Steelers light in next year's draft. They're now without their first, third and fifth-round picks, though they still should get a third-round compensatory pick for the loss of Le'Veon Bell in free agency.
Good, young defensive backs don't become available like this very often. And if not for four quarterbacks going in the top 10 picks last season, he's a top-10 selection.
The Steelers can line Fitzpatrick (6-1, 207 pounds) up at free safety on early downs and then move him into the slot when they go nickel or dime on passing downs. They did their homework on defensive backs in the 2018 draft and likely had a very, very high grade on him.
He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine last year and finished his career at Alabama with a school-record four interceptions returned for touchdowns.
