The Miami Dolphins are in talks to trade All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick , less than a year after acquiring him from the Pittsburgh Steelers , according to a report by NFL insider Jordan Schultz last week.
Fitzpatrick has one season remaining on his deal with the Dolphins, which is scheduled to pay him $15.6 million in salary in 2026. His release or trade, before June 1, would cause a $13 million dead cap hit for the Dolphins, but save them over $5.8 million against the cap this coming season — something that could become essential if they can't find a trading partner for Tagovailoa. His release would cost the Dolphins a $99 million dead cap hit.
Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports listed the Steelers as a possible landing spots for Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick would have to be released, however. By NFL rule, the Steelers can't re-acquire Fitzpatrick until either his contract expires and he becomes an unrestricted free agent, he's placed on waivers, or two years have passed since the trade that sent him to Miami.
"In Pittsburgh , Fitzpatrick would not only be reunited with Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt , but he would also get the chance to play alongside Jalen Ramsey , who came to Pittsburgh last summer as part of the trade that sent Fitzpatrick to Miami," DeArdo wrote.
"The thought then was that Ramsey would help fill Fitzpatrick's void at safety, but that plan fell through after injuries decimated the Steelers' secondary. If Fitzpatrick returned to Pittsburgh, that would give the Steelers — on paper — a pretty formidable defensive backfield that would also include veteran safety DeShon Elliott (who is returning from a season-ending injury) and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. , who is coming off his best season to date.
"A major roadblock in this scenario is that NFL teams cannot trade a player back to his previous team within two years of that trade. That means that the Steelers could only acquire Fitzpatrick if he is released by the Dolphins, which appears unlikely."
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick at practice on June 3, 2025 — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
A five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro with the Steelers from 2019-24, Fitzpatrick did not have the same kind of impact in his first season back in Miami — where he was initially drafted in 2018.
He recorded 82 tackles, four tackles for a loss, six passes defended, two quarterback hits, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 14 games for the Dolphins last season, the smallest total of statistical contributions since his rookie season.
Alan Saunders contributed.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Could Minkah Fitzpatrick Make His Way Back to Steelers?
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