Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick’s departure from Pittsburgh caught most people off guard. Except for one NFL insider, who believes the Steelers had a clear motivation behind the move. While headlines grab attention, the real story and its context truly matter in the NFL, especially with an impactful decision.
With trades and transactions shaping the roster, looking below the surface carries significant weight. When the Steelers shipped their five-time Pro Bowler, there was more to the story than met the eye.
Minkah Fitzpatrick Trade Served as Necessary Split, Asserts One NFL Expert
When Miami drafted Fitzpatrick in 2018, it signaled a shift for the front office. Pittsburgh, not known for robust trades and headlines, closed the door on the Fitzpatrick era after giving up four draft picks in the subsequent 2019 trade, including a first-rounder that the Dolphins used to select offensive lineman Austin Jackson.
During his 88-game tenure in the Steel City, the former Alabama product pulled down 18 interceptions and took three for scores. In addition, the 28-year-old made five Pro Bowls and earned three All-Pro nods. Yet, despite his impressive resumé, Fitzpatrick’s time in Pittsburgh was challenging. Longtime NFL writer Gerry Dulac from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Steelers Radio Network stopped by “The Rich Eisen Show” to discuss the impetus behind the trade.
“I will say this: What didn’t surprise me is that they were willing to move on from Minkah Fitzpatrick,” Dulac said. “I was told about a month ago that they weren’t going to actively shop him, but if somebody came a-knocking, they would listen and be willing to make a deal. For what they’re paying him, his lack of splash plays was not commensurate with the dollar figure he’s getting.”
Dulac emphasized that the Steelers’ openness to a trade stemmed from concerns about Fitzpatrick’s value relative to his contract.
“Minkah Fitzpatrick is a good football player,” Dulac continued. “But, if you go over the last two years, there’s no scoop and scores, no picks, no pick-sixes. There’s no game-changing plays. You’re paying him a lot of money to do that, and he wasn’t doing that. They were willing to make a deal for him if the right one came along.”
While nitpicky, Fitzpatrick did pick off Lamar Jackson in Week 16 last season, during a Ravens’ 34-17 win. However, Dulac’s point stands. That late-season interception was Fitzpatrick’s only pick of the season and first since New Year’s Day 2023, when he grabbed a pass from Baltimore’s Tyler Huntley.
Going 25 games, nearly a season and a half, without a clutch play raised serious concerns. With Fitzpatrick allowing an alarming career-high 79.4% completion rate in 2024, it was clear the team needed to make a change.
Ironically, Fitzpatrick’s last two years reaffirmed something that most people already know. Fitzpatrick made the Pro Bowl twice in a span of 27 games, totaling just one interception, invalidating the fan portion of the process. Meanwhile, the Steelers cut bait with a player they especially disappointed in. Now, with a glaring hole in their secondary, the spotlight shifts to who will seize the opportunity and emerge as Pittsburgh’s next defensive playmaker.
