INDIANAPOLIS — The Miami Dolphins tore down the walls last week. Now, they are selling the fixtures. Following the massive releases of Tyreek Hill, James Daniels, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Bradley Chubb, a Minkah Fitzpatrick trade looks like the next logical shoe to drop at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
The Trade Talk
NFL insider Jordan Schultz dropped the bombshell Wednesday: Miami is actively fielding offers for the five-time Pro Bowl safety. The front office duo of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley inherited a massive salary cap deficit, and they are ruthlessly clearing the books.
Fitzpatrick’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, went on WSVN in South Florida to clear the air. He insisted his client did not ask for a ticket out of town, though he smartly refused to deny the front office’s actions.
“There was a report that said that the Dolphins are shopping Minkah; I was not the source of that report, and neither was Minkah. So right now, the only comment that I have is that Minkah himself has not gone to the Dolphins and said that he wants to be traded. If there were to be a trade that would be based on other factors.”
— Drew Rosenhaus, NFL Agent
Following the Money
Rebuilding teams do not pay $15.6 million base salaries to 29-year-old safeties. After the Dolphins re-acquired Fitzpatrick last summer—shipping Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh—they restructured his deal. He now carries an $18.8 million cap number for 2026.
If Sullivan pulls the trigger on a trade, Miami saves almost $6 million in cap space. The financials make perfect sense for a roster stripping down to the studs. You could almost feel the tension in the facility last week as the new regime began slicing high-priced veteran contracts without hesitation.
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
Fitzpatrick is a plug-and-play starter for a Super Bowl contender. He wasted no time proving his worth last season, posting an 81.8 overall defensive grade despite playing on a struggling and fractured unit. Teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, and Chicago Bears are desperate for an aggressive, ball-hawking presence in the deep third and have the draft capital to make a move.
Expect Miami to ask for a Day 2 draft pick. A third-round selection, or a second-rounder packaged with a late-round pick swap, gets this deal across the finish line. Fitzpatrick is seven years older than his first stint in Miami. He wants to compete for rings, not endure a multi-year teardown. The Dolphins want youth, draft capital, and financial flexibility. Both sides win when this deal goes through.
