The Steelers have traded their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft for Miami Dolphins defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, the team announced Tuesday. The move was first reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Fitzpatrick is one of a small group of Miami players that had reportedly requested a trade from the Dolphins after the team’s terrible start to the 2019 season. Miami lost its first two games by a combined score of 102-10.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the teams also exchange late-round picks. The Steelers will get Miami’s fourth round pick in 2020 and seventh-round pick in 2021. The Dolphins will get a fifth-round pick in 2020 and Pittsburgh’s sixth-round selection in 2021.
Fitzpatrick was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Alabama and quickly became a regular for the Dolphins. He started 11 games in his rookie season and played in all 16, moving between safety and cornerback. He finished the season with 80 tackles, nine passes defended and two interceptions — one of them returned for a touchdown.
U dam right they were. Dolphins have a good nucleus….but can Ross and company figure out what to do with it???
RT @MiamiDolphins: Rookies no more. Kalen Ballage and Minkah Fitzpatrick’s touchdowns were two of the five fastest TDs in 2018.#FinsUp pic.twitter.com/F9pkriVTGs
— jbleezy (@jbleezy38) March 7, 2019
The Steelers have already traded their third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to the Denver Broncos as part of a draft-day trade to move up to pick Devin Bush this April. They had an extra fifth-round pick in 2020 from trading Josh Dobbs to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
Stay with Steelers Now for more on this developing story.