The New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins could not be headed in more different directions after the first week of the NFL regular season. The Saints capped off a thriller with a last-second field goal, inching out a win over the Houston Texans. Meanwhile, the Dolphins were struggling with an organizational decision to punt on the entire year in hopes of landing a top draft pick.

That hasn’t sat well with everyone. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reported that multiple Dolphins players have expressed a desire to get traded away from Miami; careers in the NFL are brief, and few people want to waste their years on a team trying to lose.

Some players have already been moved; the Saints saw that firsthand, when the Texans debuted two former Dolphins in left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills. It’s a safe bet that Miami will unload more players as they look to stockpile draft assets.

If that’s the case, there’s no better fit for them on Miami’s roster than defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick was a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate in 2018 after the Dolphins drafted him 11th overall, logging 80 tackles (51 solo) and two interceptions (one of them returned for a touchdown), with nine other pass deflections. But Miami has since overhauled every position from general manager to head coach. There’s no sunk cost in Fitzpatrick for them if they think they can add a valuable future asset.

He’s a versatile player who can play anywhere on the field, but he’s at his best when defending the slot. In 2018, Fitzpatrick had the NFL’s best passer rating when playing slot corner (49.7), which he played 40% of the time. He spent the rest of his time at the boundary corner spot (30%), free safety (17%), and strong safety (3%), leading the Dolphins in defensive snaps played (944). He was the only player to get more time than linebacker Kiko Alonso, who the Saints acquired from the Dolphins earlier this month.

But Dolphins coaches pulled him and several other starters during their Week 1 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He recorded 49 snaps against Baltimore and played in the slot on only 12 of them, and his coaches wouldn’t answer why they misused him. Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham would only reply, “We tried to do what was best for the team and deploy players in the right spots.”

And obviously, that didn’t sit well with star players like Fitzpatrick, though he wouldn’t use the odd call to explain their issues. “Sometimes we weren’t put in the best position, but even still, it’s up to the players to make the plays,” Fitzpatrick said when asked what went wrong. He’d never experienced a loss as bad as what the Ravens dropped on them, having starred for the Alabama Crimson Tide before joining the Dolphins a year ago.

If Fitzpatrick is available, the Saints should absolutely try to get him. Starting strong safety Vonn Bell is in a contract year. They ended up riding with last year’s starter, P.J. Williams, to again lead the team in snaps played at slot corner, and he was lit up against Houston. The Saints reunited with Patrick Robinson last year and he couldn’t keep the starting job from Williams.

Fitzpatrick would be an immediate and meaningful upgrade over who the Saints already have on the roster, and at just 22 years of age, he’s as young as any player the Saints can use a draft pick on next year. He also has the benefit of a year of NFL experience. As a former first-round draft pick, his contract includes a fifth-year option that the Saints can use to keep him around on an affordable salary until after the 2022 season.

The biggest question is whether the Dolphins are willing to look themselves in the mirror and truly tank the rest of their season. If they are, Fitzpatrick could end up being on the table.