Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress is not a fan of the recent trade between his former team and the Miami Dolphins.<\/p>\n
Burress was a guest on the FOX Sports Radio show “Up on Game”<\/a>\u00a0and was not happy with the Steelers giving up Minkah Fitzpatrick in a trade that landed Pittsburgh Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t like the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade,\u201d Burress said. \u201cI really don\u2019t. I think he fits what Pittsburgh wants to do. He\u2019s only had one interception over the last two years, but he\u2019s a run-first safety. And you knew that when you brought him here. So find some pieces around him, try to keep him in house. They\u2019re gonna miss him.\u201d<\/p>\n Fitzpatrick had been on a downward slide the last two years, but his 2024 showing was particularly concerning. Normally stellar in coverage, Fitzpatrick gave up a completion rate of 78.8% and a passer rating of 127.6, both career-worsts.<\/p>\n The five-time Pro Bowler did remain solid against the run, though, posting a 74.3 run defense grade, which ranked 37th among safeties, per Pro Football Focus<\/a>.<\/p>\n The biggest issue might have been the reported role Fitzpatrick played in chemistry and communication issues<\/a> the Steelers’ defense had in 2024, something insider Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette mentioned recently.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n “[Ray Fittipaldo] says on [93.7 The Fan] that the Steelers communication issues and chemistry issues on defense were due in large part to Minkah Fitzpatrick,” radio host\u00a0Andrew Filliponi said on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n “A lot of that was Minkah,” Fittipaldo said, per Filliponi.<\/p>\n In the wake of the Fitzpatrick trade, the Steelers now have to figure out who is going to start next to DeShon Elliott.<\/p>\n Juan Thornhill figures to be the favorite given his experience at the position, but he’s coming off a disappointing stint with the Cleveland Browns and staying healthy has been an issue for him, with 12 games missed the past two years.<\/p>\n