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The Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins made big news after Week 2 of the 2019 regular season when the two teams made a blockbuster trade. The Steelers sent the Dolphins their conditional first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, with the Dolphins giving the Steelers second year safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
At the time, the trade made little sense for the Steelers. Just prior to the trade was when the fan base learned of Ben Roethlisberger’s elbow injury requiring surgery and knocking him out of the lineup for the rest of the season.
Come to find out, the loss of Roethlisberger had a lot to do with the Dolphins taking the Steelers trade option over teams like the Kansas City Chiefs. They felt they would get a higher first round pick as compensation.
The Steelers started 0-3 and 1-4, but rebounded to an 8-8 record. That 8-8 record may sound like a tremendous achievement, but it occurred after three straight losses stifled the Steelers’ playoff hopes.
Either way, the Dolphins’ plan of getting a Top 10, or even a Top 5, pick by choosing the Steelers to do business with backfired. Instead, they will get the 18th overall pick in the upcoming selection process.
See the Top 20 picks in the NFL Draft:
Barring any comebacks, 2020 NFL Draft order:
— Adam Stites (@AdamStites_) December 30, 2019
1. CIN
2. WAS
3. DET
4. NYG
5. MIA
6. LAC
7. CAR
8. AZ
9. JAX
10. CLE
11. NYJ
12. OAK
13. IND
14. TB
15. DEN
16. ATL
17. DAL
18. MIA (via PIT)
19. OAK (via CHI)
20. JAX (via LAR)
It should be worth noting the Dolphins used an 11th overall selection on Fitzpatrick in 2018.
Knowing all we know now, I’m assuming Steelers fans are ecstatic with the trade after they saw how Fitzpatrick helped transformed the defense from the moment he stepped on the field in San Francisco. But maybe I’m wrong. Let us know what you still think of the trade in the comment section below, and stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black-and-gold.