Fitzpatrick's understanding of the defensive coverage and how the route concepts are designed to attack that particular coverage is a weekly showcase – a skill set that benefits the entire quarterback room of the Dolphins.

The processing and intelligence in Fitzpatrick's game translates both on the field and in the locker room. Head Coach Brian Flores praised his quarterback's football acumen and work ethic at the conclusion of Fitzpatrick's first minicamp with the team.

"I think Ryan is a great leader," Flores said. "He's shown that already. He's been in the league a long time. He's smart. He works hard. He embodies a lot of the qualities that we're looking for in our players – not even our players, everyone in this organization. That leadership is something that I think this team needs. We need that from not just one player but we need that from everyone on the roster."