Steelers Cornerback Recognized Minkah Fitzpatrick's Unique Talent Before College: "He's Different"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are known for a lot of things, but acquiring players via trade in the middle of a season is not one of them. Very rarely does Pittsburgh conduct any business at all when the trade deadline roles around, despite the organization being the catalyst to get the NFL to move the deadline back. Former General Manager Kevin Colbert made an uncharacteristic move at the beginning of the 2019 season, trading for Minkah Fitzpatrick just two weeks in.

Fitzpatrick was a highly touted prospect going into the 2018 NFL Draft, where he was selected with the 11th overall pick by the Miami Dolphins. He played the 2018 season with Miami, but quickly grew frustrated with how he was being used in their defense and requested a trade. Pittsburgh sent a first round pick and two Day 3 selections to Miami for Fitzpatrick. 

Fitzpatrick played his college football at Alabama, as did current Steelers cornerback Anthony Averett. Averett spoke to Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about seeing Fitzpatrick at Alabama, and knowing immediately he was a different kind of player.

"H*ll yeah. I knew Minkah was different when, I think it was his high school spring break, and he came to Tuscaloosa just to watch us practice. I’m like, ‘He’s different.’ Not at all surprised by that now that I know him. Still the same player, still the same person."

Averett got to Alabama in 2013, and Fitzpatrick didn't arrive for his freshman season until 2015. Prospects often visit practices of schools that are interested in them, which is how Averett first got to see Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was the sixth ranked cornerback in his class, and was a four-star recruit. He clearly impressed Alabama before he even arrived.

Fitzpatrick set multiple records during his time at Alabama. He broke the record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown, and tied the record for most interceptions in a single game. He won two National Championships, and was an All-American twice. His consistent strong performances got him on the radar of nearly every NFL team, and solidified him as a top-end talent in the 2018 NFL Draft. 

His success continued once he got to the NFL, especially once he was dealt to Pittsburgh in 2019. In his first season with the team, he was named First Team All-Pro, and he has since met that mark two additional times. He was tied for the league-lead in interceptions in 2022 and has made the Pro Bowl in four of his five seasons with the Steelers. 

It's no secret that Fitzpatrick is one of the most important players within the Steelers organization. Not only is his play on the field spectacular, but so is his leadership. He keeps Pittsburgh's secondary connected, in tune, and is looking to have a bounce back year in 2024 after struggling with injuries in 2023.

Steelers' Minkah Fitzpatrick Set Up For Big Year In 2024

Fitzpatrick struggled to find his footing in 2023, only playing in 10 games and suffering injuries on multiple occasions. He recorded just 64 tackles, and had his first NFL season without an interception. When he was available to play, he was often playing roles he wasn't comfortable in due to weaknesses in Pittsburgh's defense. 

General Manager Omar Khan has done a lot to improve the Steelers defense going into the 2024 season. Pittsburgh upgraded the linebacker position by signing Patrick Queen and drafting Payton Wilson, who should be the best coverage linebackers the team has seen since Ryan Shazier. The cornerback position also improved with Donte Jackson and Cam Sutton. 

Perhaps one of the more underrated moves by Pittsburgh was signing DeShon Elliott, who is a versatile safety that should free up Fitzpatrick to get back to being the center fielder of the Steelers defense. All these additions will likely help Fitzpatrick get back to his All-Pro self.

What do you think of Averett's comments? What do you expect from Fitzpatrick this season? Let us know in the comments below!

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