Rare AFC East trade feels unrealistic, but Bills could still poach rival to secure perfect missing piece for 2026 push
It should be an easy decision for Buffalo.
The Buffalo Bills should absolutely not trade for Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. It’ll cost far too much to bring him in, but that doesn’t mean the team shouldn’t be waiting in the wings.
It’s a fire sale in Miami, with new leadership making quick work of the old roster. They’ve already released star pass rusher Bradley Chubb and wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and news broke that the team would be fielding offers for star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Buffalo needs a safety, and Fitzpatrick would fill in nicely under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s style of defense. He’d pair well with rising star safety Cole Bishop, but the Bills shouldn’t jump at the chance to trade for Fitzpatrick. Instead, they should wait and see if the star defender is released, where they could potentially scoop him up for a severely discounted rate.
Look, it makes sense why the Dolphins would want to get trade assets, but if I’m general manager Brandon Beane, the only player that I would be looking at to make a trade for would be that of wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, a true difference-maker on offense. For the safety position, just wait it out.
If the Dolphins can’t find any suitable trade partners, they might be forced to let Fitzpatrick simply walk away, and that’s where I hope Beane would swoop in and try to make a deal. There’s still plenty of gas left in the tank, and while the Bills are trying to get younger across the board, FItpzatrick would immediately fill in a major team need.
Fitpatrick played well in 2025, according to PFF
In 2025, Fitzpatrick played in 14 games for the Dolphins, recording one interception, one forced fumble, six passes defended, and one sack, along with 82 combined tackles. He played well, as evidenced by his PFF grades throughout his career. He earned an 81.8 grade for defense, a 79.6 for his run defense, 61.4 for tackling, 77,1 for his pass rush, and a 78.3 for his coverage according to PFF.
Again, still plenty left in the tank for the eight-year veteran. He’s spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins in his career, and I’m hoping he keeps that stretch of AFC teams alive with a one-year deal in Buffalo. Outside of wide receiver and edge rushers, safety is one of the biggest team needs heading into 2026, and Fitzpatrick could give the Bills exactly what they need.
If the Dolphins are serious about tearing it down, patience is Buffalo’s best weapon.
There’s no reason to bail Miami out with premium draft capital when time and cap pressures could do the work for you. Let the market play out, let the Dolphins sweat, and if Fitzpatrick ultimately hits the open market, that’s when Beane should make his move.
That’s the difference between a splashy reaction and a calculated strike.
The Bills don’t need to win the headline in February; they need to win in January.
If Fitzpatrick becomes available without the trade cost attached, Buffalo could solve a major defensive need while keeping its draft ammo intact, and that’s how smart contenders operate.
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