Tuesday 17 September 2019 16:17, UK
Miami Dolphins defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick has been traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The deal for safety Fitzpatrick, 22, was confirmed on Monday night and the Dolphins will receive a first-round draft pick for 2020 in return, as well as a 2020 fifth-round pick and a 2021 sixth-round pick. In return, the Steelers will get the Dolphins' 2020 fourth-round pick and a 2021 seventh-round pick.
Fitzpatrick, who was unhappy with his role, requested and was granted permission to seek a trade before playing free safety for Miami in Sunday's 43-0 loss to New England Patriots, where he made six tackles and a fumble recovery.
The rebuilding Dolphins have been outscored 102-10 in their first two games as they have purged their roster to accumulate draft picks.
The Dolphins now have three first-round picks and two second-rounders in 2020. They also have two first-rounders and two second-rounders in 2021.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier says the team are committed to building for the long-term, and plan to rebuild through free agency as well as the draft.
"We will be very aggressive. We are not going to sit on a bunch of money or anything. The plan is to build a winner here," Grier said.
"No one likes losing. We have talked about building a team that is going to win and compete for championships for a long time instead of [competing] for one year and then you fall back for two or three.
"It is a long-term vision but we will be aggressive."
The Steelers, who also lost their first two games, have allowed 640 yards through the air and six touchdown passes and are reeling from the loss of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to an elbow injury.
"We are very excited to add Minkah to our defense," Steelers general manager and vice president Kevin Colbert said in a statement.
"We had him rated very high during the 2018 NFL draft process and we thought that he could be an impact player in this league."
Fitzpatrick - whose first career interception was off Tom Brady - was the 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft, but quickly became disgruntled after Brian Flores took over as Miami coach this year.
When the Dolphins put Fitzpatrick at strong safety during training camp, his mother Melissa complained on Twitter that he was being asked to play out of position.
The situation worsened following a season-opening 59-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, when Fitzpatrick struggled and the Dolphins tied a team record by allowing six touchdown passes in the most lopsided defeat in franchise history.
