The Seattle Seahawks have dealt with several injuries in their secondary for weeks, including one to safety Julian Love. On Wednesday, CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell proposed an external answer to Love’s injury — Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
While naming one player each NFL contender should acquire before the league’s trade deadline, Podell picked Fitzpatrick for the Seahawks.
“The Seahawks are off to a strong start after signing Sam Darnold to be their new quarterback this offseason, and they should capitalize on that start by bolstering the back end of their defense. Safety Julian Love (hamstring) has missed three of Seattle’s six games this season, so the Seahawks should be looking to bolster their depth at the position,” wrote Podell.
“Why not versatile, five-time Pro Bowler Minkah Fitzpatrick? The Dolphins are 1-5 and could be the next team to fire its head coach, which would trigger a clear rebuild. The Seahawks should swoop in at the opportunity to add a fun chess piece for coach Mike Macdonald to deploy on his defense in a year where the NFC looks open as ever.”
Fitzpatrick has already been traded twice in his career, including once this year. The Dolphins acquired him from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a “doozy” blockbuster trade on June 30.
Over six years in Pittsburgh, Fitzpatrick made first-team All-Pro three times.
Ironically, in September 2019, the Steelers traded for him from the Dolphins, who selected Fitzpatrick at No. 11 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
In six games this season, Fitzpatrick has posted 38 combined tackles, five pass defenses and one interception for the Dolphins.
Seahawks’ Julian Love Dealing With Hamstring Injury
If everyone in the Seahawks secondary was healthy, there would be little reason for Seattle to show interest in Fitzpatrick.
But the Seahawks secondary is far from healthy. Love has now missed half of the first third of the 2025 season.
Maybe most alarming about Love’s injury — he already returned but then had to sit again. Love missed Week 3 because of his hamstring but played on a short week Thursday during Week 4.
Despite then having 10 days to prepare for Week 5, Love sat out that contest and the team’s most recent game on October 12.
If the Seahawks see Love missing more games, then acquiring a veteran safety to help in the immediate future wouldn’t be a bad idea. It’s possible Love will have to deal with his hamstring issue for the rest of the season.
How Minkah Fitzpatrick Could Fit With Seahawks
Fitzpatrick’s most recent All-Pro season was 2022. Although he made the Pro Bowl the past two years, he hasn’t been the same player.
In 2022, Fitzpatrick had a league-high six interceptions. Since then, he has just two in 33 games.
That’s the downside to trading for Fitzpatrick. The veteran safety is also signed through 2026 and is set to have an $18.8 million cap hit next year.
That’s obviously a lot to pay a player who might just be an injury replacement for half a season.
But the Seahawks could work out more favorable terms through a trade with Miami to lower that cap hit. The Seahawks could also plan on starting him for more than just 2025. Seattle free safety Coby Bryant is set to be an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
The Seahawks could have plans for second-round rookie Nick Emmanwori to replace Bryant. But Emmanwori has only played three games this season because of injuries.
Fitzpatrick could provide insurance in the secondary this season and next if Seattle wanted that. At the very least, he is a safety who has been healthy since the start of the 2024 campaign.
Fitzpatrick has played ever defensive snap for the Dolphins this season.
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