The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of their most promising seasons in several years, but there are still some questions about the current play of some players as well as the future of them on the team for years to come. One of the players that is in the center of those conversation is Minkah Fitzpatrick.
When the Steelers made the decision to trade their 2020 first round pick for Fitzpatrick, very shortly after having soon to be Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending injury, they shocked everyone in Steeler Nation. The move had people scratching their heads as the season seemed lost at that point, but it did show the team wasn't giving up despite the injury to their star quarterback.
Fitzpatrick quickly ended all questions around whether the Steelers made the correct choice as he ended up getting his hands on the ball seven different times in 2019 and returning one interception and one fumble for a touchdown. Those splash plays continued heavily throughout his first four seasons in Pittsburgh, including leading the NFL in interceptions in 2022.
However, those splash plays have not been coming the past couple seasons as Fitzpatrick did not record a takeaway in 2023 and has yet to do so in 2024, although he does have one forced fumble this season. The lack of splash plays has resulted in many people questioning if there has been decline in his play, as well as his future with the team. However, Fitzpatrick has consistently been defended by coaches or members of the media close to the team as this appears to be a product of a different role which results in less opportunities to be the ballhawk he originally joined the team as.
When asked about the potential of re-signing Fitzpatrick and potentially seeing a decline in his play, Steelers' insider Mark Kaboly replied in his weekly mailbag that he would absolutely re-sign him given the opportunity.
"Absolutely I would re-sign him. Even though he has lacked splash plays over the past year, there is more to it than interceptions. Some players mean more to the team than just stats and that's Fitzpatrick. You can't imagine what he means to this defense as a whole. He's a lifer just like Heyward, Watt, and, on the other side of the ball, Pat Freiermuth."
The question of whether he should be re-signed is slightly premature, as he signed a new deal prior to the 2022 season which keeps him with the team through the 2026 season. An extension for Fitzpatrick wouldn't even be on the table until after the 2025 season, his age 29 season, and a lot of things can change over the next season and a half. That being said, the team would likely agreed with Kaboly.
While Fitzpatrick may not be the one getting the splash plays, it isn't hampering the Steelers' defense in that department. The team currently leads the NFL in turnovers forced through 13 weeks. Most likely Fitzpatrick is taking away certain areas of the field which is resulting in teams to either hold the ball longer so the Steelers' pass rush can get home to strip the quarterback, or opposing team's quarterbacks are forcing the ball into tight coverage elsewhere.
Steelers Will Regret Not Picking Up Najee Harris' Fifth-Year Option
Another player that has been a frequent topic in terms of his level of play and contract situation has been Najee Harris. The Steelers decided not to pick up Harris' fifth year option this past offseason, which makes him a free agent this upcoming offseason. This was a decision that resulted in a split reaction from fans and the media, as Harris had his level of play questioned in the past at times despite surpassing 1,000-yard each season.
This year Harris clearly isn't having any issues with his level of play, as he is currently sitting at 824 rushing yards on the year with a very good chance of surpassing his career high in yards from his rookie season. As the season as gone along Harris has picked up his level of pay, likely due to the uptick in the offense's performance with Russell Wilson starting.
