Steelers outbid Chiefs for Dolphins DB Minkah Fitzpatrick in blockbuster trade

Kansas City Chiefs fans who are concerned about the quality and depth of the team’s cornerback corps got unwelcome news on Monday night: the Pittsburgh Steelers have acquired Miami Dolphins cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick in a blockbuster trade — as reported by ESPN insider Adam Schefter.

Fitzpatrick has been one of the cornerbacks some Chiefs fans and analysts (including our own Kent Swanson) have been identifying as a player the Chiefs could get to improve their secondary. But the draft capital the Steelers gave up to acquire the 22-year-old player now entering his second NFL season was steep — as Schefter reported.

Fitzpatrick — the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 draft — played in all 16 games for the Dolphins last season, starting 11 of them. He was credited with 81 tackles (51 solo), nine passes defensed and two interceptions — one of which he returned for a touchdown.

But Fitzpatrick’s young age, rookie track record (and with it, his rookie contract) make this a pretty good trade for the Steelers, as ESPN’s Field Yates noted.

According to friend-of-the-site Terez Paylor of Yahoo! Sports, the Chiefs were aggressively pursuing a a trade for Fitzpatrick, but were essentially victims of their own success.

So what’s next for the Chiefs? Will they continue to try and find another defensive back to add to their secondary? Time will tell.