3 reasons Minkah Fitzpatrick deserved a record-setting contract
Minkah Fitzpatrick’s production
Focusing on the nearly three years he has spent in Pittsburgh (traded in week 3 of 2019,) what we can see is a guy who has grown into his role more and more each season.
In short, he’s gotten better at his job each year even if the traditional statistics do not show it. The improvement in his tackle numbers shows his involvement in the game. (69 in 2019, 79 in 2020 and 124 in 2021.)
Critics may look to his interception numbers which have declined in those three years (5 in 2019- 2 in 2021.) to say Pittsburgh isn’t getting peak performance out of him. This would be misguided.
Let’s take a case study of three NFL Safeties, Fitzpatrick, Micah Hyde from Buffalo, and Harrison Smith from Minnesota, a guy most people would have in their top 3 to 5 safeties in football.
All numbers are from Pro Football Focus.
In 2021, receivers Fitzpatrick covered were targeted 41 times and he allowed 25 receptions. This gives him a catch rate of 60%.
In 2019, Fitzpatrick’s receivers were targeted 23 times and he allowed 15 catches for a catch rate of 65%.
For comparison, Micah Hyde was targeted in coverage 26 times, allowed 18 catches, and had 5 picks in 2021 for a catch rate of 69%.
Harrison Smith was targeted in coverage 27 times allowed 20 catches, had 1 INT, allowed a 79% catch rate, and made the Pro Bowl…
If we look to just the numbers, who had the better season?
Football is the ultimate team game. No statistic will ever tell you the whole story or give you the full picture of any player’s ability.
All three of these safeties are excellent football players and their contribution to their team cannot be summed up statistically.
Bonus fact:
He makes his mark on and off the field
My mom whooped some Steelers in pickleball today lol pic.twitter.com/FoHbGXCGtu
— Nat (@ravioli_wizard) June 12, 2022
Is Fitzpatrick the best safety in the league? It’s a pointless argument. But his value to what Pittsburgh is trying to do defensively is worth every penny he was paid.
He is the highest-paid safety in the league, for now… Until the next guy gets paid.