Minkah Fitzpatrick’s second act in Miami might end as quickly as it began. Traded back to to the Dolphins in June, Fitzpatrick could a sneaky name to be on the move by Tuesday’s trade deadline. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer included Fitzpatrick in a list of candidates he’s hearing could be on the block. The 2-7 Dolphins in clear sell-off mode could swap out their veterans for future draft capital.
“Teams asking about Jaylen Waddle have been flatly told no,” Breer wrote of the receiver speculated in trade talks. “But Miami may be more receptive on Minkah Fitzpatrick.”
Fitzpatrick doesn’t look part of the team’s future plans. Turning 29 this month, he’s yet to recapture the magic of his heyday in Pittsburgh. He has just one interception this season for a Dolphins’ defense that ranks 27th in scoring. Under contract through 2026, there’s reason for Miami to move on and build up the draft coffers. And reason for teams to acquire a player who could be more than a rental.
But as Breer notes, it’s not clear just how open for business Miami is. The Dolphins fired long-time GM Chris Grier Friday morning with Champ Kelly serving as interim general manager. His freedom to make weighty roster moves could be limited by ownership that may clean house come the offseason. Still, that would seemingly apply to younger players like Waddle instead of veterans like Fitzpatrick and pass rusher Bradley Chubb.
Safety is an area of need for the Steelers, especially as injuries have rocked and changed the group. While Fitzpatrick might feel like a sensible candidate, NFL rules prohibit him from swapping back to Pittsburgh. A player can’t be traded back for at least two years, meaning any deal with the Steelers would be disallowed.
The same rule applied to 2024 speculation of WR Diontae Johnson returning back to Pittsburgh after quickly wearing out his welcome in Carolina. Instead, Johnson went to Baltimore…and Houston…and back to Baltimore again (via waiver claim)…and then Cleveland. I’m going to stop myself here.
Breer offered a slew of other names worth thinking about at the deadline. The Las Vegas Raiders might be quick to move on from OL Jackson Powers-Johnson under a Pete Carroll/John Spytek regime that did not draft him in 2024. Powers-Johnson was on the Steelers’ radar in that draft, but he was off the board in the second round when Pittsburgh snagged Zach Frazier instead. A move that’s worked out well for Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin. But Powers-Johnson could be cheap and versatile depth with a mean streak the Steelers gravitate towards.
Tennessee Titans’ NT T’vondre Sweat is also worth mentioning. Breer floated him as a potential candidate, a second-year player just working back from injury. Big but with burst, the Steelers lost backup NT Daniel Ekuale in Week 8 due to a torn ACL. Sweat would be an intriguing name to plug an inconsistent run defense, but rookie Yahya Black could serve similar purpose and seems poised to take over Ekuale’s spot. Sweat also has his coachability concerns.
Other names tossed around include New Orleans Saints CB Alontae Taylor and Cleveland Browns TE David Njoku.
Breer also noted the Raiders have received little interest in WR Jakobi Meyers, contrasting other reports of league-wide interest with Raiders turning those calls down. A pending free agent, it sure makes sense for Meyers to be dealt by free agent, but a Las Vegas win this weekend over the Jacksonville Jaguars (who will be without Travis Hunter) could have the front office holding onto postseason dreams. Perhaps this is all just posturing from the Raiders’ end.
Pittsburgh’s already made one move to acquire S Kyle Dugger. But Omar Khan didn’t lose the number of draft picks he’ll have in 2026’s draft, meaning he could take a swing at dealing a late-round pick in a deadline deal.
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