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REPORT: Dolphins Looking to Trade Minkah Fitzpatrick

Originally posted on Dolphins Talk | By Mike Oliva | Last updated Feb 18, 2026 4:31 PM ET

REPORT: Dolphins Looking to Trade Minkah Fitzpatrick

NFL Insider Jordan Schultz is reporting the Dolphins are trying to trade safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, and they have had trade talks with teams already.

Fitzpatrick played in 14 games this past season in Miami, had one sack and one interception.

In his career, he has played 120 games, started 115, and recorded 21 career interceptions.

He has been a three-time first-team All-Pro and has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times.

Miami drafted Fitzpatrick in 2018, but traded him away to Pittsburgh after just one season.

They reacquired him, though, last offseason as part of the Jalen Ramsey trade.

Sources: The #Dolphins have had trade talks with teams regarding 5x Pro Bowl S Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Miami released four players earlier this week, including Tyreek Hill, and are in the early stages of resetting the roster under a new regime. pic.twitter.com/bADGD0Ndrj

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 18, 2026

Fitzpatrick is scheduled to make roughly $15.6 million in 2026, but if he is traded pre-June 1st, it opens up $5.8 million of salary cap space for the Dolphins, while they would eat roughly $12.9 million of dead cap.

But in this year where Miami is gutting the roster of all veterans as they embark on this rebuild, a trade for Minkah, which one would assume would net Miami a 3rd or 4th round draft pick, is the wise choice.

This is less about the dead cap hit and more about getting more draft picks for this rebuild, and for new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan to have so he can add his players to this roster to move forward with.

Minkah was a great player for Miami last season, but he doesn’t fit in the plan moving forward as the Dolphins are going with a youth movement to build a foundation with Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan.