The Miami Dolphins appear hellbent on joining the 2008 Detroit Lions in the ranks of the winless. Already devoid of viable NFL starting talent at several positions, the Dolphins are now showing a willingness to part with their better players in order to assure the tank job is successful.
One player available, according to reports by ESPN’s Chris Mortensen and others, is defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick. Per Mortensen’s report, the Dolphins want a first-round pick in return.
Should the Lions pounce and trade for Fitzpatrick?
It’s a steep price, but Fitzpatrick is a good young player and a first-round pick (No. 11 overall) in 2018. The 22-year-old can play safety or cornerback and showed he could do both at a high level during his college career at Alabama. He was a popular projection to the Lions during the in-season 2018 mock drafts, and it made sense.
He had a decent rookie campaign in Miami, bouncing between slot corner and free safety but also getting a fair amount of looks as the boundary CB. That sort of positional versatility is catnip for Lions coach Matt Patricia in his “multiple” defense. Fitzpatrick has the potential to be the mobile chess piece in the secondary which stops offensive mismatches.
The first-round asking price is steep. The question the Lions need to ask is, do they believe they can obtain a more useful player than Fitzpatrick with that 2020 first-round pick?
They might, but Fitzpatrick is a good one. Even better, he’s coming from a Dolphins team coached by Patricia’s successor in New England, Brian Flores. In short, he knows the base system and the expectations Patricia will place on him in Detroit.
It’s certainly worth GM Bob Quinn calling the Dolphins and seeing what they want for Fitzpatrick. Minkah Fitzpatrick, not Ryan; the Lions do not need a 36-year-old journeyman backup/spot starter at quarterback.
