With latest news, odds are steep the Dolphins get back equal value in Minkah trade
The bar is now set for Chris Grier:
The 18th pick in April’s draft must someday become one of the best two dozen players in the NFL or the Steelers will have won September’s blockbuster trade.
Minkah Fitzpatrick, the second-year safety sent to Pittsburgh for the Steelers’ 2020 first-round pick, on Friday was named a first-team All-Pro, one of the highest honors available to NFL players.
Fitzpatrick, who also is a Pro Bowler for the first time, had five interceptions, forced a fumble and recovered two, and scored two defensive touchdowns after the Dolphins traded him to the Steelers during Week 3 of the 2019 season.
Fitzpatrick, a first-round pick by the Dolphins in 2018, never meshed with the new Dolphins’ coaching staff and chafed at having to learn multiple positions instead of focusing on one. The Steelers, meanwhile, saw Fitzpatrick as a natural free safety and let him master that position after trading for him.
The Dolphins did have hope that Pittsburgh’s first-round pick would be in the top 10, or even top five, after a 1-4 start to the Steelers’ season. But the Steelers finished the season with wins in seven of their last 11 games, so the Dolphins will instead pick 18th.
How likely is it the Dolphins will draft the caliber of player they just traded away?
Not great. But better than you perhaps might think.
Here’s a list of the players taken 18th in the last decade: center Garrett Bradbury (Vikings); cornerback Jaire Alexander (Packers); cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (Titans); center Ryan Kelly (Colts); cornerback Marcus Peters (Chiefs); safety Calvin Pryor (Jets); safety Eric Reid (49ers); linebacker Melvin Ingram (Chargers); defensive end Corey Liuget (Chargers); and center Maurkice Pouncey (Steelers).
Those 10 players have been named to a combined 14 Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro lists.
An important caveat, however: Pouncey is responsible for eight of those Pro Bowl appearances and two All-Pro nods.
This story was originally published January 3, 2020 at 1:11 PM.
