The 2019 Minkah Fitzpatrick Trade: Pittsburgh Spent a First-Round Pick and Got Years of All-Pro Play
Pittsburgh acquired 22-year-old Minkah Fitzpatrick from Miami for a package led by a 2020 first-rounder. He became an immediate All-Pro and long-term defensive centerpiece.
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 2020 1st round pick (18th overall, Austin Jackson), 2020 5th round pick (154th overall, Jason Strowbridge) and 2021 6th round pick (207th overall subsequently traded, Jonathan Marshall )
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- pick Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2020 4th round pick (135th overall, Kevin Dotson ) and 2021 7th round pick (245th overall, Tre Norwood)
Trade Summary
Pittsburgh bought an All-Pro safety at age 22 for a first-round pick and modest extra draft value. Minkah Fitzpatrick immediately changed the Steelers defense, became one of the NFL's premier safeties, and gave Pittsburgh the kind of young blue-chip defender teams almost never acquire in September. Miami received Austin Jackson and smaller pick value, but the return never approached Fitzpatrick's impact. This was a clear Steelers win.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Pittsburgh acquired Minkah Fitzpatrick from Miami in September 2019. The Steelers sent a 2020 first-round pick plus later selections and received Fitzpatrick along with additional fourth- and seventh-round draft value. The headline was simple: Pittsburgh surrendered a future first for a 22-year-old defensive back only one season removed from being selected 11th overall.
Why the Steelers Made an Unusual In-Season Bet
Pittsburgh had just lost Ben Roethlisberger for the season, which made trading away a future first especially risky. The Steelers could not know how high that selection might become. Their argument was that Fitzpatrick himself was equivalent to the type of blue-chip player they would hope to find with the pick, except he was already proven at the NFL level.
That evaluation was accurate almost immediately. Fitzpatrick became a playmaking centerpiece in the secondary and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2019 and 2020. Pittsburgh later signed him to a major extension, confirming that the organization viewed the acquisition as a long-term foundation move rather than a short-term patch.
What Miami Received
The first-round pick landed at No. 18 in 2020 and became offensive tackle Austin Jackson. Miami also received later picks, while Pittsburgh's incoming fourth-rounder became guard Kevin Dotson. The Dolphins therefore did obtain meaningful young-player value and should not be treated as having received nothing.
The comparison still favors Pittsburgh because Fitzpatrick delivered elite seasons at a premium defensive position during his prime. The Steelers knew exactly which NFL player they were buying, while Miami accepted the uncertainty of draft conversion.
How the Later Reunion Fits
Fitzpatrick returned to Miami in a separate 2025 trade involving Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. That later transaction does not erase the six seasons of value Pittsburgh received from the original 2019 deal.
Final Verdict
Pittsburgh wins. Miami converted an unhappy young player into a first-round asset, but the Steelers acquired multiple All-Pro seasons and a long-term defensive leader at a price that proved reasonable for the quality received.