Steelers Dynamic Playmaker Minkah Fitzpatrick Gets #2 Ranking For Safeties By PFF

Pittsburgh Steelers star defensive back, Minkah Fitzpatrick has firmly established himself as one the premier playmakers in the league at the safety position. Since coming to Pittsburgh in 2019 from the Miami Dolphins in one of former General Manager Kevin Colbert's most savvy moves, the Alabama Crimson Tide product is tied for third in interceptions. He has made both the Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro in three of four seasons. Despite all this and tying for the league lead in interceptions in 2022, Fitzpatrick wasn't at the top of a recent positional ranking done by Pro Football Focus (PFF). 

The Los Angeles Chargers picked Derwin James just six spots behind the Dolphins' selection of Fitzpatrick in the 2018 draft, and both have shown their abilities to be game-breakers. James has missed some time due to injury over the years, including having his whole 2020 season wiped out by a knee injury and missing significant time in 2019. When healthy, though, he flies around the field making plays. He has registered more than 100 tackles in every year he has played in 14 or more games. James was named to the Pro Bowl and the Second Team All-Pro in 2022. 

Dalton Wasserman of PFF had James whom he called the "league’s most dynamic playmaker at safety," in the number one spot citing his ability to be a force in run support, pass rushing, and in coverage. Despite ranking 13th overall among qualified safeties, Wasserman said if James can return to the form of his rookie season, he should be in the conversation for the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2023.  

Steelers Minkah Fitzpatrick Slides Onto The Rankings At 2

Wasserman also gave Fitzpatrick whom he called "the centerpiece of the Steelers secondary," credit for his versatility. He scored a total 82.4 rating for the season which put him third among qualified safeties in 2022. He noted that Fitzpatrick was one of two players in the position to grade higher than 82.0 in both coverage and run defense. The other important part of Fitpatrick's game is producing turnovers. Wasserman mentioned Fitzpatrick's struggles in 2021, where he only produced three turnovers, a forced fumble, and two picks and failed to score a defensive touchdown for the first time in his career. Though the turnovers were not coming his way, he still had an impact with career highs in combined tackles with 124 and solo tackles with 84. The Steelers have had a fair amount of turnover in the secondary this offseason and Wasserman said the team should be happy to have an elite safety blanket behind an unknown cornerback group. Fitzpatrick said recently that he thinks the new group is already ahead of schedule chemistry-wise through OTA workouts, but the real tests for the group will start when pads come on for training camp. 

It is always tough to make a list like this and not disrespect at least one talented player. Some factors may sway people one way or another. James has been much more effective as a pass rusher collecting 9.5 career sacks including a career-high four in 2022. Fitzpatrick has yet to sack the quarterback in his NFL career, and it is not tough to see why. The Chargers have had James blitz at least 20 times in three seasons, including a whopping 52 times in 2018. In contrast, Fitzpatrick has been brought for a blitz more than 10 times only twice in his career, in his rookie year with Miami and 2022 with the Steelers. 

Both James and Fitzpatrick deserve to be in the conversation of the top safeties in the sport. It is a matter of opinion on what you want from them that separates James and Fitzpatrick from the number one crown. Want a guy to blitz and run around making tackles? James is your guy. Want a ball-hawk whose got a high propensity for taking the ball away? Fitzpatrick is your man. 

Would you have Fitzpatrick ahead of James? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments!

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