Cowboys pursued Minkah Fitzpatrick aggressively at the deadline. New coordinator's scheme favors his skills, hinting at a renewed offseason pursuit.
FRISCO - To understand what the Dallas Cowboys might be up to now as it relates to a trade for Miami Dolphins veteran Minkah Fitzpatrick, we have to go back to the November NFL trade deadline.
What I reported then: Dallas “sniffed around” on the idea of a deal.
What I can report now, via an NFL source: Dallas was “serious” then about acquiring Minkah - and furthermore, that the team might be expected to “circle back” on the idea now.
In fact, it’s being reported that Miami has already fielded calls on this idea in recent days.
Logic tells me Dallas is - or will be - among those potential suitors.
Donovan Wilson is a free agent, and there is a $6.8 million savings if Malik Hooker is cut. (And short of anything that drastic, Dallas - as avid readers know - can create more than $110 million in cap room if needed to make moves.)
One way or another, change is coming at the position under new coordinator Christian Parker.
Parker is a disciple of the Vic Fangio “Hybrid 3-4” scheme, which Fitzpatrick has excelled in.
Fitzpatrick - who can cover and who is a physical tackler at 6-1 and 207 - last year earned high grades from PFF to pair with his reputation as a vocal leader.
We’ve seen some wild guesses as to what it might take to trade for Fitzpatrick, 29; I don’t have solid info there yet.
I do know that the team that trades for him will be planning to pay $15.6 million in non-guaranteed money on the final year of his deal . … but that it might be smart to work on a contract extension with him.
And we do know that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has promised that this offseason will include “dramatic” acquisitions.
The Cowboys don’t usually invest greatly in the safety position … but now I know they almost did exactly that a few months ago.
And logic - again - suggests that when it comes to Minkah Fitzpatrick, it might be time for the “serious” Cowboys to do it again.