Steelers Pickup 5th Year Option On Impact Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick

Minkah Fitzpatrick was part of the house cleaning by the Miami Dolphins early in the 2019 season, as Miami was busy piling up first-round picks for young players. Fitzpatrick then signed on with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Fitzpatrick has been an impact player for the black and gold, making some key picks and running a couple of them back for touchdowns.

He raced back a 97-yard touchdown against the Colts in a key win two seasons ago. He also ran one back against the Los Angeles Rams later that same season.








'Fitz' followed that up with a pick-6 against the Cleveland Browns in a blowout win at Heinz Field in 2021.

Tuesday, the Steelers rewarded Fitzpatrick by picking up his 5th year option.

While picking up his option was basically a no-brainer, the team also needs to make a big decision on fellow first-round safety Terrell Edmunds, who has been okay but not the impact player that Fitzpatrick has been.

Pittsburgh's clock on Edmunds is ticking. They have till May 3rd to make a decision on his 5th year option.

It might be smart to pick up the option, which would be cheaper than going through the process of selecting another safety in the draft, hoping that player pans out, and then picking up the option on that player five years down the road.

Edmunds' situation remains up in the air, but for now, Fitzpatrick isn't going anywhere.











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Matt has been a part of the Cleveland Sports landscape working in the media since 1994 when he graduated from broadcasting school. His coverage beats include the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Cavaliers. He's written three books, and won the "2020 AP Sports Stringer Lifetime Service Award."