Ex-Dolphins Minkah Fitzpatrick and Laremy Tunsil named to NFL.com’s All-Analytics team
Dolphins fans likely shed a tear when looking at the NFL’s All-Analytics team.
Released Friday, the team consisted of the 22 best offensive and defensive players “according to a contribution metric” created by NFL.com that calculates “each player’s impact on his team’s ability to win games, for every snap.”
But for Fins fans, two names particularly stand out: Laremy Tunsil and Minkah Fitzpatrick, both of whom were in Miami this time last year.
On Tunsil, analytics expert Cynthia Frelund noted his effect in both the pass and run game “combined for the lhighest win-contribution metric among left tackles.” His acquisition also boosted the Houston Texans’ overall offensive ine production from among the worse in the league to 19th overall, according to Frelund’s metric.
Fitzpatrick’s impact with the Pittsburgh Steelers was similar. Frelund pointed out the safety’s passer rating in coverage (27.3), per Pro Football Focus, was lower than if the quarterback intentionally throws the ball away (39.6). This was due to a change in usage, with the Steelers utilizing him at deep safety for 90 percent of his snaps compared to 22.4 percent in Miami, according NFL.com.
Tunsil and Fitzpatrick were shipped out last year as part of the Dolphins’ mission to accumulate draft capital. The Dolphins traded the right tackle along with Kenny Stills to the Texans just before the start of the season in exchange for two first-round picks as well as a 2021 second-rounder. One of the first-rounds picks eventually became cornerback Noah Igbinoghene while the other is for 2021.
A Week 3 trade sent Fitzpatrick, a 2020 fourth-round pick and 2021 seventh-rounder to the Steelers. The Dolphins received the 2020 first-round pick that became offensive tackle Austin Jackson, a fifth-round pick that turned into defensive end Jason Strowbridge and sixth-rounder in 2021.
Both players found unprecedented success with their new teams. Fitzpatrick was named to the All-Pro first team and earned a spot in the Pro Bowl. Similarly, Tunsil also made the Pro Bowl for the first time.
Though it remains to be seen how the Dolphins’ picks will play out, the metrics aren’t really in their favor — at least for right now.
