(Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
With Minkah Fitzpatrick up for a massive contract extension, it appears that he's following the path of T.J. Watt from last year where he partially participates during practices but sits out during the 11-on-11 periods. Watt signed a four-year, $112 million contract extension in September that included $80 million in guaranteed money.
At minicamp this past week, Mike Tomlin said he would “play it by ear” in regards to Fitzpatrick’s practice participation for minicamp. All reports indicate that Fitzpatrick was a partial participate.
“Even though he’s not practicing, it doesn’t mean he’s not locked in,” Terrell Edmunds said on Thursday via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “He’s still out there trying to give out pointers, he’s watching every single play, he’s giving his feedback of what he sees, and he’s trying to help us out the best way he can.”
Fitzpatrick’s fifth-year option is worth $10.612 million, which is way below what the top safeties in the league are making. Fitzpatrick reportedly is looking to become the highest-paid safety in the league, surpassing Jamal Adams' figure of $17.5 million per year.
“I don’t know how that is going to turn out, but I definitely feel like he deserves it,” Edmunds said about Fitzpatrick's contract situation. “He deserves to get that top dollar. He’s put in the work for it, the stats and everything show. He definitely deserves the money.”