As if the Miami Dolphins couldn't give the Chicago Bears any more reasons to take their former players, general manager Ryan Poles might have a chance to give them a call about a trade.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Dolphins are actively shopping safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to trade him. Bleacher Report writer Gary Davenport included the Bears as one of the teams that could call the Dolphins with a proposed trade offer of the 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick to Miami in exchange for Fitzpatrick and a 2027 sixth-round pick.
"After capturing the NFC North in 2025, the window is officially open in the Windy City. The team trotted out an excellent safety duo a year ago in Jaquan Brisker and veteran Kevin Byard III. C.J. Gardner-Johnson played well for the team after joining the Bears in-season. There's just one small problem. All three are about to hit free agency.
The Bears are up against the cap—the team is upside-down to the tune of $5 million and change. They will no doubt free up some room with some releases and restructures, but keeping the band together at safety is going to be difficult—especially where Brisker is concerned. Provided the team can make the money work, adding Fitzpatrick would at the very least keep the team on track at the position. And if the Bears want to improve on last year's success, the team can't afford a defensive backslide."
Bears could make a trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick is a five-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro who has been one of the top safeties in the NFL. Back in 2022, he led the NFL with six interceptions.
Chicago could really use him with Byard, Brisker, and Gardner-Johnson all free agents and free to sign elsewhere. Byard appears to be the only player in the secondary that Poles has publicly said he wants back on the roster. The others are still up for grabs.
If the Bears just have to give up a third and seventh-round pick for Fitzpatrick, that is a deal Chicago should jump on in a heartbeat. They will never find another as good as a great defensive back of Fitzpatrick's caliber.
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Imagine putting Fitzpatrick and Byard together at safety? The Bears' once-struggling defense would have life and a real shot at a Super Bowl title.