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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 29: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Miami Dolphins reacts during the second quarter against the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium on September 29, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
A main focus for the Chicago Bears this offseason will revolve around the safety position.
With negative $5.3 million in available cap space, according to OvertheCap.com, and both starting safeties slated to be free agents, it’ll be interesting to see what path the Bears take.
There’s Kevin Byard, who’ll be 33 years old by the time next season rolls around, but enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, finishing as a Pro Bowler and First-Team All-Pro. And there’s Jaquan Brisker, who’s suffered from concussions to start his NFL career but also enjoyed the best season of his career in 2025.
However, things just got interesting with the latest Miami Dolphins news surrounding safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Bears Given Intriguing Trade Package for Minkah Fitzpatrick
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Dolphins are actively shopping Fitzpatrick.
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.
The five-time Pro Bowler and 29-year-old is entering the final year of his contract, and Miami is looking to start on a clean slate as the team has already cut pass rusher Bradley Chubb, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, offensive lineman James Daniels, and wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
That said, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport put together an intriguing trade package for the Bears:
Dolphins Get: 2026 Round 3 pick, 2027 Round 7 pick
Bears Get: S Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2027 Round 6 pick
Here’s what he had to say on the potential trade.
“The Bears are up against the cap—the team is upside-down to the tune of $5 million and change. They will no doubt free up some room with some releases and restructures, but keeping the band together at safety is going to be difficult—especially where Brisker is concerned. Provided the team can make the money work, adding Fitzpatrick would at the very least keep the team on track at the position. And if the Bears want to improve on last year’s success, the team can’t afford a defensive backslide.”
Davenport also added that if the Bears did receive an extra third-round pick for losing Ian Cunningham to the Atlanta Falcons, this deal would be close to a “no-brainer” move. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
Is This the Right Move for Chicago?
There’s no doubt that Fitzpatrick is an amazing player. In fact, he’s been one of the best safeties in the NFL for a very long time.
690 total tackles, 21 interceptions, and 60 pass deflections in 120 career games with the Dophins and Pittsburgh Steelers. Trading away the third-round pick would also be good, considering general manager Ryan Poles’ history of third-round selections, but the bigger problem revolves around Fitzpatrick’s contract.
He’s in the final year of his $73 million contract, with a 2026 cap hit of $18.9 million. It’s one thing to trade away draft capital for a 29-year-old safety, but it’s also another thing to pay him that price tag for one season.
The Bears could always restructure his contract, but then again, they would have to give him an extension after the 2026 season if they want to keep him.
Is trading for Fitzpatrick a better alternative to extending Byard or Brisker? It feels like it would be a complicated move to make for Poles.
Isaac Zuniga is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders. More about Isaac Zuniga
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