Less than one year after acquiring him in a blockbuster trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Miami Dolphins are set to move on from FS Minkah Fitzpatrick. Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Fitzpatrick is on the trade block with the Dolphins engaged in “trade talks” with more than one team.
“Sources: The #Dolphins have had trade talks with teams regarding 5x Pro Bowl S Minkah Fitzpatrick,” Schultz tweeted Wednesday afternoon.
Sources: The #Dolphins have had trade talks with teams regarding 5x Pro Bowl S Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Miami released four players earlier this week, including Tyreek Hill, and are in the early stages of resetting the roster under a new regime. pic.twitter.com/bADGD0Ndrj
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 18, 2026
A new regime led by general manager Jon Eric-Smith and head coach Jeff Hafley creates an expected roster purge. Miami has been the first to gut its roster, releasing WR Tyreek Hill, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and OG James Daniels earlier this week. Veteran EDGE Bradley Chubb is expected to follow suit unless Miami can find a trade partner in the coming days and weeks.
It sounds like Fitzpatrick’s future in Miami is on shaky ground even if the Dolphins can’t trade him. But for now, the team will shop Fitzpatrick in the hopes a team bites.
A star in Pittsburgh for several seasons, Fitzpatrick’s play began to regress in 2023. Injuries limited his availability, but a healthy 2024 season failed to bring back the big plays he was known for after initially being traded from Miami to Pittsburgh in 2019. He picked off just one pass in 2024. Despite a public show of confidence, the Steelers dealt Fitzpatrick to the Dolphins last June in a deal that returned DB Jalen Ramsey, TE Jonnu Smith, and a swap of draft picks.
Neither team exited 2025 feeling especially great about their return. Ramsey was meant to be a lockdown cornerback but finished the year transitioning to safety, intercepting one pass all season. Smith had a terrible season and is a surefire cap casualty. In Miami, Fitzpatrick again intercepted one pass and missed three games. He was injured in his return to Pittsburgh and sidelined the rest of the regular season.
Turning 30 in November, Fitzpatrick may struggle to command a trade market. Free agency offers enough safety options and the 2026 draft class is one of the best at the position in a decade.
If Ramsey is released, the Steelers will have a need at free safety. However, they would not be able to trade back for Fitzpatrick. As we discussed in 2024 regarding WR Diontae Johnson, NFL rules prohibit a player being traded back to the team that traded him within two seasons. The only way Pittsburgh could reacquire Fitzpatrick is if he’s released.
Unless the Dolphins get to the point of cutting him, which is possible, the Steelers can’t be involved in those trade talks. Still, Fitzpatrick could find himself on a third NFL team in as many seasons. A mighty fall for a five-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro, and defensive back who felt on a possible Hall of Fame track just a few years ago.