Cincinnati Bengals
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A new trade proposal has the Bengals landing Minkah Fitzpatrick
We are less than a month away from NFL free agency kicking off. For the Cincinnati Bengals, free agency will determine what needs the team has heading into the NFL Draft. Currently, most of the focus is on improving their defense, which has ranked in the bottom-10 for two consecutive seasons.
The Bengals have been getting busy prior to free agency, as they re-signed nickel cornerback Jalen Davis. Davis was a key member of the Bengals’ defense down the stretch, as they showed signs of improvement. Now, a new development has led to the Bengals perhaps improving their defense once again and making another significant transaction prior to free agency.
Trade Proposal Lands Cincinnati Bengals Minkah Fitzpatrick
NFL insider Jordan Schulz recently reported that the Miami Dolphins were exploring trading away five-time Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.A to Z Sports Dolphins writer Kyle Crabbs detailed four possible trade packages for Fitzpatrick, and one of them has the Bengals landing the former Steelers All-Pro safety.
Crabbs’ hypothetical package includes the Bengals sending a sixth-round pick alongside wide receiver Andrei Iosivas in exchange for Fitzpatrick. Regarding the potential trade, A to Z Sports Bengals writer John Sheeran wrote, “Miami has everyone in the league looking at them knowing what’s up. Several notable players have been released, and now one of their best players with one year left on his contract is being discussed as a trade piece. Combine that with the free agent safety class looking extremely deep, and Miami doesn’t have a ton of leverage despite Fitzpatrick still being really good.
The Bengals are expected to be active in that FA safety market, but they also have the salary cap space to absorb Fitzpatrick’s $15.6 cap hit as the acquiring team. They also have a starting-level receiver in Iosivas to offer following Tyreek Hill’s release from the Dolphins. The Joe Flacco trade also netted Cincy with an extra sixth-round pick, so Miami can add a pick to a round in the 2026 NFL Draft it didn’t already have. Trades are tricky with the Bengals, but with an extra sixth at their disposal and a saturated safety market ahead of them, this could be a scenario that works out for them.”
Potential Trade Ramifications
Andrei Iosivas has been a strong receiving option for the Bengals these past two seasons. He totaled over 400 receiving yards in each of them, despite not being one of the primary targets in an offense filled with playmakers. However, he is set to be a free agent after the 2026 season, and landing a player of Fitzpatrick’s caliber could be a worthwhile move for Cincinnati.
Fitzpatrick did not make the Pro Bowl this season, but he did perform well for the Dolphins in 14 games played this season. He finished the season with an81.8 overall grade by Pro Football Focus, his highest since the 2022 season in which he earned first-team All-Pro honors. He was unable to finish out the season with the Dolphins as he suffered an injury in Week 15 in Miami’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.