Miami Dolphins talks to trade superstar as major clearout continues

The Miami Dolphins are said to have opened the door to trade negotiations over star Minkah Fitzpatrick amid a major offseason upheaval in South Florida. As a new roster begins to take form under new head coach Jeff Hafley in Miami, the Dolphins have reportedly held discussions with other teams around the league over a potential trade for the safety, according to Jordan Schultz. The five-time Pro Bowler is set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2027, with several teams reportedly interested in acquiring his services for the final year of his contract for $18million. It is currently unclear which franchises have shown interest in the veteran. However, the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings are believed to be two teams in need of a safety. Fitzpatrick only returned to Miami last offseason when the Dolphins traded for him in a move that sent tight end Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh. However, his second stint with the franchise could now be ending prematurely once again. In 2018, the Dolphins used the 11th overall pick to select Fitzpatrick in the first round of the draft. However, Fitzpatrick only played one season in Miami before he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019 amid yet another rebuild for the Dolphins. The Dolphins have already begun a mass clearout down in Miami this month, parting ways with a number of big names, including Tyreek Hill. The controversial NFL star, who won the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs back in February 2020, was axed by the Dolphins as recently-hired head coach Hafley begins a new era in Miami. The news sparked uncertainty over the NFL future of Hill, who turns 32 on March 1 and is currently recovering from a dislocated knee and torn ACL. Hill spent four seasons with the Dolphins but his 2025 campaign ended on September 29 when he suffered the serious knee injury against the New York Jets. Not long after, the receiver refused to rule out quitting the NFL but on Monday, he promised that 'The Cheetah' will be back. 'The Journey Don’t (sic) Stop,' he wrote on Instagram. 'From the bottom of my heart, Thank You To the entire Miami Dolphins organization, my teammates, the staff, and most importantly Fins Nation, for an unforgettable 4 years. 'From the moment I landed in Miami, I felt the Love. You believed in me. You pushed me. You celebrated with me. These past few years have been some of the most meaningful of my life and career.' Hill thanked his 'brothers in the locker room,' his former coaches and the fans in South Florida. 'Miami, you have became (sic) my home,' he continued. 'But, the journey doesn’t stop here… this off season, for the first time ever, The Cheetah is all the way turned up and locked in. Focused. 'The Cheetah don’t (sic) slow down. Ever. So to everyone wondering what’s next… just wait on it. The Cheetah will be back…Born Again.' After four seasons in Miami, the eight-time Pro Bowler will now hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his NFL career. Hill immediately updated his Instagram bio to say he was 'unemployed'. Releasing the receiver now means the Dolphins will not have to pay an $11million guarantee next month and removes $36m in cash from next season's roster. The Dolphins also decided to cut Bradley Chubb, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and James Daniels on Monday. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's future remains uncertain.