Projected Landing Spots and Trade Packages for Dolphins S Minkah Fitzpatrick

The Miami Dolphins may not be going out of business, but the franchise certainly appears to be holding a clearance sale.

The Dolphins have already released wide receiver Tyreek Hill and edge-rusher Bradley Chubb. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa seems destined to follow them out the door, whether it's via trade or a release that would result in a record dead cap hit.

And now, per NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, the Dolphins are actively shopping five-time Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

The 29-year-old, who is entering the final year of his contract, had something of a down year in his return to the Dolphins in 2025, with 82 total tackles and one interception. But he made the Pro Bowl in three straight seasons from 2022-2024 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he allowed a passer rating against of under 90 for the third time in four years.

A player with Fitzpatrick's talent and resume is absolutely going to interest some NFL teams—especially those who fashion themselves Super Bowl contenders. He should land the Dolphins a pick in the back half of Day 2.

Here are a handful of clubs that should be giving new Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan a call.

Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

Howie Roseman

Miami Dolphins Get: 2026 Round 3 pick

Philadelphia Eagles Get: S Minkah Fitzpatrick

The Philadelphia Eagles and general manager Howie Roseman are no strangers to swinging a trade for veteran talent. As a matter of fact, Fitzpatrick's former Dolphins teammate, Jaelan Phillips, finished the 2025 campaign in Philly after the edge-rusher was traded in-season.

Making a similar move for Fitzpatrick makes sense.

The Eagles were solid defensively last season, including ranking eighth in the league against the pass. But while safety Reed Blankenship has started 46 games over the past three seasons, the fifth-year pro has been something of a weak link—he heads into free agency having allowed a passer rating against north of 100 in two of those three seasons.

The Eagles have $18 million and change in salary-cap space per Over the Cap, so the financials are doable—especially if the team moves some money around with an "extension" that does little more than bump Fitzpatrick's guarantees.

The team will also probably receive a third-round compensatory pick for losing defensive tackle Milton Williams in free agency last year, so the pick needed to obtain Fitzpatrick could be found money.

The Eagles upgrade the back end. The Dolphins get a Day 2 pick. Fitzpatrick gets to compete for a Super Bowl.

Everyone wins.

Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Geno Stone

Miami Dolphins Get: 2026 Round 3 pick, 2027 Round 7 Pick

Cincinnati Bengals Get: S Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2027 Round 5 pick

The 2025 season was a calamity in the Queen City. And while Joe Burrow's injury played a part in the team missing the playoffs, the Bengals offense actually moved the ball pretty well even with Joe Flacco under center.

The team just couldn't stop anybody.

For the season, the Bengals were dead-last in the AFC in total defense at just over 380 yards allowed per game. The team was 30th in points allowed, and the pass defense ranked 26th in the NFL.

Geno Stone started all 17 games for the Bengals at safety last year, logging a career-high 104 total tackles. But while he piled up tackles, he was a major liability in coverage. He allowed a completion percentage against over 65 percent and posted a career-worst 106.6 passer rating against.

With the 26-year-old Stone also about to hit free agency, a trade for Fitzpatrick would present an opportunity for a sizable upgrade at deep safety. The Bengals have no shortage of cap space.

And with the Dolphins seemingly blowing up the roster, a 29-year-old on an expiring contract shouldn't be prohibitively expensive.

Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

Jerry Jones

Miami Dolphins Get: 2026 Round 5 pick, 2027 Round 3 pick

Dallas Cowboys Get: S Minkah Fitzpatrick

The biggest sticking point to the Dallas Cowboys obtaining Fitzpatrick isn't their annually woeful cap situation—even with the team over $30 million in the red against the projected salary cap, owner Jerry Jones would find a way to kick the can and make a deal work. He always does.

No, the issue is that after Dallas makes their second pick of Round 1 at No. 20, the team doesn't currently have another selection until No. 112 in Round 4.

However, if the Dolphins are willing to wait for the meat of the trade to come their way in 2027 (as the Jets did when Dallas acquired defensive tackle Quinnen Williams last year), then Jones should get on the phone because the Dallas defense was woeful in 2025.

The Cowboys were 30th in the league in total defense last year. They were the only team in the league that surrendered over 30 points per game. And no team allowed more yards per game through the air than Dallas at 251.5.

The Cowboys defense needs upgrades at just about every level, and Fitzpatrick would give new defensive coordinator Christian Parker an anchor in the secondary.

Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski

C.J. Gardner-Johnson

Miami Dolphins Get: 2026 Round 3 pick, 2027 Round 7 pick

Chicago Bears Get: S Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2027 Round 6 pick

Were the Chicago Bears receiving an extra third-round pick for losing executive Ian Cunningham to the Atlanta Falcons, this deal would inch closer to no-brainer status.

But while Cunningham is Atlanta's new general manager in name, the NFL ruled that Matt Ryan is the team's "primary football executive." So, no dice.

That shouldn't stop the Bears from making a call though.

After capturing the NFC North in 2025, the window is officially open in the Windy City. The team trotted out an excellent safety duo a year ago in Jaquan Brisker and veteran Kevin Byard III. C.J. Gardner-Johnson played well for the team after joining the Bears in-season. There's just one small problem.

All three are about to hit free agency.

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.

Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Doug Murray

Miami Dolphins Get: 2026 Round 3 pick, 2027 Round 6 pick

Jacksonville Jaguars Get: S Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2027 Round 6 pick

This last one is a deal that might appeal to Fitzpatrick, in that he'd only have to move about 350 miles up the Florida coast. He also would get to continue not paying state income tax.

And if you think that doesn't matter to athletes, multiply his $15.6 million base salary in 2026 by say six percent.

Now, Fitzpatrick isn't going to want to play out the final year of his contract. He will want an extension. But after a so-so 2025, any "extension" will more likely than not be more moving money around than long-term payday.

He will get more in guarantees in 2026, if only so his new team can spread his salary out more. For a deal to work in Duval, it would take those sorts of machinations—Jacksonville currently sports the third-worst cap situation in the NFL.

The Jaguars had the second-best regular season in franchise history in 2025, and the team was respectable against the pass, allowing 222.3 yards per game through the air. But Jacksonville's safety duo of Andrew Wingard and Eric Murray isn't exactly imposing, and Wingard is a pending free agent.

It's been a while since we saw the Jags in win-now mode, but that's where they are. And this is a win-now move.