One the NFL's most valuable defensive backs is on the trade market. Minkah Fitzpatrick, a first-round pick in 2018 by the Miami Dolphins, has received permission from the team to seek a trade, according to ESPN sources. The Dolphins' asking price includes a first-round pick, sources said.
As a rookie last season, the former Alabama standout earned an impressive 79.3 overall Pro Football Focus grade and a 76.7 coverage grade across 379 snaps at slot cornerback. He also ranked first in completion percentage allowed (51.3%) and passer rating allowed (53.4) among the 34 defensive players with 200 or more coverage snaps played in the slot in 2018.
Fitzpatrick was one of the best rookie slot corners we have ever graded. Since 2006, only five rookie defensive backs have earned higher coverage grades from the slot than Fitzpatrick's 79.3: Casey Hayward, Desmond King, Leon Hall, Tyrann Mathieu and Antoine Cason.
And Fitzpatrick's NFL success is what we expected after he excelled for the Crimson Tide in college. His 90.5 career coverage grade playing the slot for Bama is the best grade among 93 Power 5 defenders with 400 or more slot coverage snaps played since 2014.
Miami, however, doesn't see Fitzpatrick as one of the league's best up-and-coming slot cornerbacks. According to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, the Dolphins asked Fitzpatrick to learn six positions this offseason after having him play at least 90 snaps at box safety, slot corner, outside corner and free safety as a rookie. Fitzpatrick's frustration is well-warranted because it takes him away from the position he clearly plays best and one that has grown significantly in value with the NFL's ongoing pivot to lighter personnel groupings.
NFL offenses used three or more wide receivers in 2018 nearly twice as often as they did in 2008. The shift in offensive strategy forces defenses to add a fifth defensive back to play a primary role. The league average for base personnel (four defensive backs) dropped to just 25% in 2018 as a result.
But slot cornerbacks aren't increasing in value solely because they're playing more often. According to PFF's data scientists Eric Eager and George Chahrouri, throwing to slot receivers has been worth approximately 0.243 expected points added (EPA) over the past 13 NFL seasons, while throwing to outside receivers has yielded only 0.228 EPA in the same span. Also, the median EPA when throwing to slot receivers is 0.200 compared with just 0.130 for outside receivers. Thus, throwing to inside receivers is not only a more valuable play, it's a safer play for offenses, as well.
Each of the 31 other NFL teams would benefit from trading for Fitzpatrick; no defense can have enough high-performing slot cornerbacks. Let's highlight five teams that should be first in line to pursue him:
Seattle Seahawks
After losing Justin Coleman to the Lions in free agency this offseason, Seattle has taken a committee approach to its slot corner spot with a handful of young, underperforming defensive backs.
Rookie fourth-round pick Ugo Amadi, the team's leader in slot cornerback snaps played in Week 1, earned just a 61.2 coverage grade and allowed receptions on all four of his targets for 32 yards and two first downs in his NFL debut.
The former Oregon product played more than 1,000 defensive snaps in the slot in his career with the Ducks but never thrived at the position. He ranked outside the top 20 FBS defensive backs in coverage grade (77.5) with 300 or more coverage snaps played in the slot over the past two seasons. Fitzpatrick would be an immediate upgrade over Amadi and give Seattle's secondary a much-needed boost.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay needs an injection of talent in its secondary. While the team has invested significant draft capital at defensive back in the past two drafts -- it has used second- or third-round picks on Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean, Carlton Davis and M.J. Stewart -- none of its selections comes close to matching Fitzpatrick's ability at slot corner.
The Bucs finished 31st in yards allowed per target to the slot (9.32) last season and picked up where they left off in 2019. Stewart, the team's primary slot cornerback, has earned just a 58.3 coverage grade across 60 slot coverage snaps through two games, allowing four receptions for 48 yards, one first down and a touchdown.
New Orleans Saints
PJ Williams just isn't going to cut it if New Orleans' defense wants to take a significant step forward. Among the 36 defensive backs with at least 300 coverage snaps played in the slot since 2017, Williams ranks 35th in coverage grade, 30th in passer rating when targeted (106.4) and 34th in yards allowed per reception (11.9).
He has gotten off to a slow start this season, allowing three receptions for 41 yards, a touchdown and a first down en route to a 45.5 single-game coverage grade against the Texans.
Philadelphia Eagles
Fourth-year veteran Cre'Von LeBlanc, Philadelphia's primary slot cornerback from a year ago, earned a solid 75.2 coverage grade from the slot in 2018. But he's now on injured reserve with a foot injury, forcing second-year Pittsburgh product Avonte Maddox to take over in the slot. Early returns aren't encouraging.
After earning just a 55.6 coverage grade playing mostly outside cornerback as a rookie, Maddox fell flat on his face across his 44 coverage snaps at slot cornerback in Week 1 against the Redskins. He allowed receptions on six of his eight targets for 52 yards and a first down, with zero forced incompletions and only one defensive stop. Maddox finished the game with a 42.7 coverage grade from the slot, ranking 26th among the 28 NFL defenders with 20 or more coverage snaps played at slot cornerback in Week 1.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers' defense ranked 29th and 32nd, respectively, in yards allowed per target (9.93) and passer rating when targeted (135.5) when opposing offenses targeted the slot in 2018.
Though K'Waun Williams, the team's primary starter at slot corner, has impressed at times, Fitzpatrick would still be an upgrade over the fifth-year veteran. Williams ranked just 19th in coverage grade (68.2), 30th in forced incompletion percentage (4.7%) and 27th in passer rating allowed (109.1) from the slot a year ago.