So it is with disgruntled Dolphin Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick was a first round draft pick, and will have 2 years (plus a club option third) on his rookie contract after 2019.
Current top slot corner TJ Carrie is scheduled to make over 4 million more bucks in 2020.
Fitzpatrick was drafted in the first round because he could play anywhere in the secondary, including Free Safety.
Like a bunch of other Dolphins players, Minkah sees a rebuild in progress. The Coaches and players will never deliberately "tank" a season, but the Fins' Front Office has dumped a lot of veteran talent, even moreso than
But Minkah's assertion is that he doesn't like how he is being used in the Defense.
He kinda has a point, as he's mainly the slot corner, and not a safety or perimeter corner.
Those who think Minkah Fitzpatrick was a bust are wrong, but so are those who think he's played up to his 11th overall draft status.
One position the Dolphins were crowded at was Safety, so he wasn't expected to start there as a rookie anyway. He was drafted to play wherever the Coaches could find room for him.
That turned out to be over the slot.
As a rookie in 2018, Fitzpatrick graded out at a little over 61 (average) as a cornerback per PFF.
His best days are in front of him, and given his salary, his youth, and that cap-freindly salary, we can count on John Dorsey kicking those tires.
The hangup is, of course, what the Dophins would demand for this player.
They'll "expect" a first round pick, which of course is a bluff.
The Fins are rebuilding, and Minkah Fitzpatrick is actually one of the young players they want to keep.
The fact that they granted Minkah's agent permission to seek a trade was mostly a PR move. If they do trade this guy, he won't come cheap.
They have a good chance at getting a second rounder from somebody, or a third and maybe a 4th if they accept it.
If I were the Dolphins, I'm holding onto this ascending young player; he is part of the rebuild, and is already here. If I'm them, the least I'd accept from the Browns (who should draft in the bottom third of each round) would be a 2nd and 3rd round pick (or the equivelants).
John Dorsey and Paul DePodesta still have to consider it. TJ Carrie is one reason, and Damarius Randall (whose contract expires after 2019) is another. A third is that Minkah could be an upgrade over Morgan Burnett.
Would it be worth a 2nd and 3rd round pick to bring Minkah in here?
Well, Dorsey has a year of pro tape on the kid, and should be able to make a massively more informed decision about what he can do and will become.
What could Dorsey get with those 2 picks?
Even the best talent evaluators miss, especially after the first round. Austin Corbett, anyone?
But then, Nick Chubb was a big "hit". DE Chad Thomas (3rd) hasn't accomplished anything. But then you can see how Kareem Hunt and Tyreek Hill worked out.
Fitzpatrick is the safe bet, and fills an imminant (if not immediate) need.
But those 2 draft picks...nevermind. If I'm the Fins, they wouldn't be enough.
Minkah Fitzpatrick can cause distractions and mess up the locker room, but has no other leverage. I would tell him "We spent a first round pick on you, and you are in our long term plans. Be patient, kid. Your time will come."
In short, this trade is unlikely.
Matt Josephs does a terrific job analyzing the Browns vs Jets Monday Night Football matchup.
This guy is refreshingly objective, as well as insightful and thorough. He may have been trained to think with his brain! He sure didn't learn that in urinalism school but I digress:
In my own humble opinion, the loss of CJ Mosely is more significant than the loss of Sam Darnold. Matt overthinks the Quarterback stuff:
Sam Darnold is still "raw", and at this point in time, NOT better than Trevor Siemian. (Talk about hype!)
CJ was the Baltimore Ratbird who sealed the Ravens win in game 16 with a leaping interception, and is one of the best all-around linebackers in the NFL.
CJ would have been on Njoku or Chubb in coverage a lot, along with running and hitting, and occasionally blitzing.
But Matt is right about the intangibles, kicking games, and everything else, including the final score (Browns 27 Jets 13).
Well...really more like Brownss 55, Jetss minuss 13, but I won't quibble.
Now...Ebineezer Bell was servicable in game 1 with the Jets, but Matt (along with everybody else except me) falls for that hype.
I (sigh) repeat: The Steelers had a great Quarterback, and possibly THE BEST Offensive Line in football, along with one of the best OLine coaches in history.
The Jets? Not so much (knock-knock anybody home!?!)
Ebineezer ooo, scary! All his prior stats vs the Browns are meaningless. He is a very talented back who can line up at WR and stuff, but look at what his Steelers' replacements did in his absence!
Oo scary! He hangs back and waits for his blocks to develop! Well...Steelers...Jets? Yeah I can't wait to see Ebineezer hanging back there like that with these players in the trenches.
Siemian will "find" Bell as a receiver, and he'll do more damage there than he would have with Darnold, but you people? Ebineezer Bell aint all that. Nick Chubb will prove the better player over time. Mark my words.
Bell and Antonio Brown are both selfish, greedy mercenaries and despicable people, but at least Brown was smart enough to land with Tom Brady and the Patriots.
Bell? Asshole and stupid! Stay tuned!
More on this: Like OBJ, Antonio Brown will have to deal with not being THEEE man, and making less money than he would have made, and probably being kicked to the curb in 2020 when he refuses to renegotiate, but at least he might get a ring.
But I digress: Ebineezer Bell is overrated. He has not faced THIS defense, without the Steelers' Offensive Line to hide behind.
Think with your BRAIN.
Bold predictions:
Mayfield will run for 1 TD.
Chubb will gain over 120 total yards and 1 TD.
Njoku will catch at least 1 TD pass.
Seimian will get sacked at least 5 times, and throw at least 2 interceptions.
Rodney Chubbfield will outperform Ebineezer Bell.
The Browns offense will gain over 400 yards and 3 TDs.
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