DAVIE, Fla. – Former first-round draft pick Minkah Fitzpatrick has received permission from the Miami Dolphins to seek a trade, ESPN is reporting, citing multiple NFL sources.
Fitzpatrick, who was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2018 draft, is unhappy with playing multiple positions, sources said.
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His agent has been in contact with a number of teams requesting a trade, but they've been resistant to the apparent asking price, which includes a first-round pick, sources said.
Dolphins head coach Brian Flores didn't deny that Fitzpatrick is looking to be traded, but the first-year coach said he expects Fitzpatrick to play Sunday against the New England Patriots.
"Minkah is a big part of the game plan right now," Flores told reporters Friday. "He's done a really good job all week. This is a tough kid, a hardworking kid. He loves football. I expect him to play well Sunday. I'm excited to see what he does Sunday."
The safety, who won a pair of national championships at Alabama under former Dolphins head coach Nick Saban, started 11 games for the Dolphins as a rookie, recording 80 total tackles and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He had six tackles, including four solo tackles, in Miami's 59-10 season-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Flores wouldn't say whether the team would honor Fitzpatrick's trade request.
"Those conversations are confidential," he said.
But Flores said he isn't bothered by Fitzpatrick's request, recalling a similar situation with New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung.
"He was in New England with me," the former Patriots assistant said. "He left, went to Philly. (He) didn't like the way things were going there in New England, left and went to Philly, came back and that whole thing turned around. This is not my first go-around with a situation like this. That turned out well for Patrick. He and I have an incredible relationship. Things change, quickly. We know that to be the case in this league. We'll just see how this thing shakes out."
Chung went on to win three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots.
Flores said he isn't aware of any other players asking for trades.
"I think everybody on this team is going to have a role, and that role is going to fit whatever we feel is best for the team," Flores said. "I think they all understand that, and I think that's the way it should be."
That starts Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champions.