(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Minkah Fitzpatrick has been one of the best safeties in the league since the Steelers traded with the Dolphins for him in September of 2019. Fitzpatrick has been named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in his two seasons in Pittsburgh.
Fitzpatrick was a productive player for the Dolphins, but he didn't mesh well with new head coach Brian Flores and what he was asking him to do in the defense. Flores was reportedly asking Fitzpatrick to learn six different positions.
The Steelers have kept it pretty simple with Fitzpatrick, especially in his first year, and have played him predominately at the free safety position. Fitzpatrick doesn't expect much to change in Year 3, either.
“I don’t think too much is going to change. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Fitzpatrick told the media after today's OTAs practice.
Mike Hilton signed with the Bengals in free agency and Steven Nelson was released by the team as a cap casualty this offseason, so the Steelers will have to replace two starters in their secondary in 2021. They're counting on Cam Sutton to replace Nelson at the outside cornerback position opposite of Joe Haden and young unproven cornerbacks James Pierre and Justin Layne will have to step up when they go to their sub-packages.
With losing Hilton and Nelson in the secondary, some expect Fitzpatrick to move around a little bit more this year to help replace their talents.
“We’re are still figuring out what we’re going to do,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s still early. Come Week 1 against Buffalo, we’re going to have it figured out.”