This is the day when I am almost always disappointed with the Dolphins ... not today! We took a guy who is a home run. This is the Honeybadger without the baggage ... the Honeybadger with prototypical size ... the Honeybadger with elite speed. This is the guy who can become not only our best defender, but also a guy who can compete for Defensive MVP in the league during his career. This is the coach on the field. He is that guy who elevates the players around him. He is the organizing safety we always need. He is the ballhawking safety we always lack. He may be young, but he's the guy who takes the great athletics of these young DB's and brings out the best in them, helps them get in the right spot, helps them learn to study film like a maniac and tackle like a madman. He is the guy who nullifies good slots and tough matchup TE's. Does he shut down Gronkowski? No ... but neither does anyone else. But when we play the Ravens ... they don't make us look like complete chumps at will by simply dumping everything just beyond the LB line, laughing at our LB's trying to cover anybody and our gutsy but undersized nickel back trying to handle big TE's.
Minkah Fitzpatrick, best name in the draft, better person, even better player. Maybe ... just maybe ... he's the guy to show the coaches that a true free safety is a wonderful thing. Too often teams get seduced by the underwear Olympics ... and while Fitz has the athleticism to make you drool and the size to give personnel people woodies, this dude is no workout warrior. Fitz is just a great football player wrapped in the prototypical athlete. If he were a receiver, I would explain him as a Randy Moss specimen with a Jerry Rice approach to the game. How can you possibly get better than that?
Fitz is one of the very best players in this draft, and we got a steal at 11. I'm floored he was available. I'm ecstatic we again did the right thing by staying there and picking the talent. I'm giddy that we scooped up one of the top talents in the entire draft at a position of need just like we did with Laremy Tunsil. But Fitz has no character issues, has no motivation issues, has no injury issues, and is a born leader. Yes ... give me THAT package at 11 please!