First-round pick Fitzpatrick, 3 other rookies sign deals

DAVIE — The Miami Dolphins announced Friday they’ve signed rookie safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, and according to according to NFL.com it’s a fouryear deal worth $16.4 million with a $10 million signing bonus.

The Dolphins also announced they’ve signed three other 2018 draftees — cornerback Cornell Armstrong, their sixth-round pick from Southern Mississippi, linebacker Quentin Poling, the seventh-round pick from Ohio University and kicker Jason Sanders, the seventhround pick from New Mexico.

Armstrong, the 209th pick of the draft, got a four-deal. Last year’s sixth-round pick, defensive tackle Vincent Taylor, the 194th pick, got a four-year deal worth about $2.5 million.

Fitzpatrick, who attended Alabama, was the 11th pick of the draft and is expected to be a major contributor in the Dolphins’ secondary this year as a rookie.

Fitzpatrick joins fellow safeties Reshad Jones and T.J. McDonald as Miami seeks to improve it’s back end defensive pass coverage. Jones and McDonald are both strong safeties and they didn’t do as well as hoped last season when one had to play free safety.

Fitzpatrick, who can play down in the box as a strong safety, has skills better associated with a free safety.

It’ll be up to Miami defensive coordinator Matt Burke to figure a coverage system that maximizes the talents of all three safeties.

Defensive backs coach Tony Oden said Fitzpatrick has gotten off to a fairly typical start.

“He’s a rookie,” Oden said. “That’s what it is. He’s a rookie. He’s doing a good job. He’s smart. He’s all of the things that we thought he would be. We’ve just got to bring him along, just like he’s a rookie, and give him what he can handle. We’re not going to slow his progress up one way or the other. We’re just going to take it day by day.”

While Oden chooses to take the cautiously optimistic approach regarding Fitzpatrick, he stresses the youngster is making good progress.

“I always start off with saying he’s a rookie,” Oden said. “He’s definitely that. But you can tell he’s played in a lot of football games. He’s a very good communicator. He works hard. He wants extra study. So those things are kind of mature, or [more mature] than most. He’s fallen in line with exactly what we thought he would be.”

Armstrong and Poling will likely have their best shot at making the 53-man roster via special teams.

Armstrong competes in a strong area behind starting cornerbacks Xavien Howard, Cordrea Tankersley and Bobby McCain, who was rewarded with a contract extension Friday, as well as Tony Lippett, a 2016 starter who is returning from a season-ending Achilles injury.

Poling is trying to crack a contingent that includes projected starters Kiko Alonso, Raekwon McMillan and Jerome Baker as well as reserves Stephone Anthony, Chase Allen and Mike Hull, among others.

Sanders will compete with kicker Greg Joseph, the undrafted rookie from FAU.

Miami’s unsigned draftees include tight end Mike Gesicki, the second-round pick from Penn State, Baker, the thirdround pick from Ohio State, tight end Durham Smythe, the fourth-round pick from Notre Dame, and running back Kalen Ballage, the fourth-round pick from Arizona State.