Early in the NFL offseason, the Miami Dolphins made a lot of noise after firing head coach Mike McDaniels, replacing him with former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, and conducting a recent roster breakdown to free up cap space for free agency.
Their decision to waive star receiver Tyreek Hill garnered a lot of attention, but a new report claims they are on the verge of moving on from another key member of their roster. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, "The Dolphins have had trade talks with teams regarding five-time Pro Bowl S Minkah Fitzpatrick."
Miami traded Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers a year ago to acquire a 2018 first-round pick. However, they would clearly like to move on from the $15 million the 29-year-old will make in 2026.
With that in mind, let's take a look at five teams that should target a star safety, including the Las Vegas Raiders.
cincinnati bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals' defense was a mess this offseason and is close to losing top star Trey Hendrickson. They will certainly make some notable additions on that side of the ball through the NFL Draft. However, they still need meaningful veterans who can lead those youngsters and make plays on the field. Targeting a Fitzpatrick trade could be on Cincy's radar this offseason if they can free up more cap space.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears could lose both Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard in NFL free agency this spring. If that worst-case scenario happened, or if they only lost one, it wouldn't be a surprise if they looked at a Fitzpatrick trade. It seems like Chicago is a few touches away from becoming a serious Super Bowl contender in 2026. The five-time Pro Bowler could be one of those pieces.
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders defense was very poor last season. That's why improving their pass rush will be a top priority this offseason. However, achieving that kind of high-value-add is not easy. Since they struggled to prevent big plays last season, it makes sense to target proven talent in the secondary as well. Fitzpatrick is one of the most versatile safeties in the game and could be a useful weapon for head coach Dan Quinn.
las vegas raiders
Even with Max Crosby on the field, the Las Vegas Raiders defense struggled last season. After the end of 3-14 they need help in many places. They also need more proven veterans on both sides of the ball who can make an immediate impact. Because Fitzpatrick can bring so much to the defense, and since Las Vegas will have a lot of cap space available, they should consider a trade for the Dolphins' safety.
tennessee titans
2025 was a difficult year for the Tennessee Titans and finished with a disappointing 3-14 record. A major reason for this was that the defense was the worst in the NFL. They need to add some big-name talent to the unit and will have a bunch of cap space to do so this offseason. The duo of Minkah Fitzpatrick and Amani Hooker could give Tennessee one of the best safety duos in the game next season.
