The Miami Dolphins created salary cap space while adding money in Minkah Fitzpatrick’s pocket.
The Miami Dolphins and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick have agreed to a restructured contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move added $16.245 million to Fitzpatrick’s signing bonus, adding about $2 million to the safety’s 2025 salary, moving it from his 2026 money owed. For the Dolphins, moving the money into the signing bonus created about $11 million in additional cap space for Miami, providing them with needed room to continue to upgrade the roster for this season.
“We are comfortable with this commitment to Minkah as we continue to work with the Dolphins on a multi-year extension,” Fitzpatrick’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus told Schefter. Fitzpatrick hired Rosenhaus after the Pittsburgh Steelers traded Fitzpatrick to Miami with the goal of landing a long-term extension in South Florida.
Fitzpatrick has taken part in all of the Dolphins’ practices in their first week of training camp. Miami acquired the five-time Pro Bowl safety from the Steelers in a trade that sent cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith, along with a 2027 seventh-round draft pick, to Pittsburgh. Miami also received a 2027 fifth-round pick in the deal.
This marks Fitzpatrick’s second stint with the Dolphins. The team selected him 11th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was traded after the first two games of the 2019 season after disagreements with then head coach Brian Flores and the defensive system being used.
The two sides will continue to work toward a potential long-term contract, but for the present, it appears both sides are satisfied with the restructured deal. The contract Miami received from the Steelers has Fitzpatrick signed through 2026, but it had no guaranteed money remaining on the deal.
The Dolphins have Sunday off, their first rest day of training camp. They will return to the team facilities on Monday.