Fitzpatrick is hoping for clarity from Dolphins

Minkah Fitzpatrick was the consummate team player as a rookie, switching between three positions and doing it with a great attitude.

But Fitzpatrick hopes the Dolphins settle on one position for him next season. And he would like them to tell him that position sooner rather than later.

“I would like to know by January or February,” Fitzpatrick told me.

Why? Because Fitzpatrick says his offseason training program and approach with his weight will be dictated by what position he plays.

“I lost 10 pounds playing cornerback because I moved faster, chasing guys around,” he said. “If I’m playing safety, maybe 8 to 10 pounds more [is better] so I have a little extra thud.”

Though he had some good moments at boundary cornerback, former coach Adam Gase has suggested Fitzpatrick is most valuable

at safety. There’s a decent chance he will end up there next season, though Miami still must figure out what to do what its incumbent starting safeties — Reshad Jones and T.J. McDonald.

They would save nothing against the cap by cutting Jones and very little by moving on from McDonald.

Here’s how Fitzpatrick played in coverage at all three positions:

Slot cornerback: 49.7

A passer rating in his coverage area, which was best in the league.

Safety: 74.3 passer

A rating in his coverage area, but only a couple of targets.

Boundary cornerback:

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80.5 passer rating in his coverage area, second best on the team behind Xavien Howard.

Overall, Fitzpatrick only allowed a catch rate of 56.5 percent and a passer rating of 69.0, which are excellent. But he needs to cut down on penalties — his 10 ranked among NFL leaders.

Because of his three

A interceptions, Jones had a great 72.2 passer rating in his coverage area, compared with 101 for McDonald, 118.8 for Walt Aikens and 102.1 for Mo Smith.

But because Jones had to play more in a free safety role for the first time — further away from the line of scrimmage — he slipped to 41st of 90 safeties against the run, one of many reasons why Miami’s run defense was second worst in the league. But the Dolphins determined Jones would be better able to handle that role than McDonald, who was 24th against the run. That’s why moving Jones back to strong safety — and inserting Fitzpatrick at free safety — makes sense.

CHATTER

Even after landing Ohio A

State transfer Tate Martell, the Hurricanes aren’t done looking for quarterbacks for the 2019 class. New UM offensive coordinator Dan Enos offered a scholarship to four-star New Orleans-based QB Lance Legendre during an in-home visit last week.

The 6-3 Legendre, rated the No. 8 dual-threat QB by Rivals, plans to visit Miami on Feb. 1, the weekend before National Signing Day, after visiting Tennessee and FSU. Those are his three finalists. But UM has stopped aggressively pursuing Mississippi-based John Rhys Plumlee, a Georgia commitment.

Martell, who’s enrolling this week, won’t graduate early, meaning his only chance of gaining eligibility for 2019 is if the NCAA grants a waiver. He hired a Phoenix-based attorney to

pursue the waiver.

In the wake of Jarren

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Williams’ father telling us that Williams plans to stay at UM in light of Martell’s arrival, N’Kosi Perry’s mother told Canesport that her son will do the same.

“It’s a new coach so everything starts new,” Roberta Perry said. “He’s very excited about it. … N’Kosi is looking forward to what [Enos] can bring to the quarterbacks. It also was so nice of Manny Diaz to give N’Kosi a call when everything was happening after he took over. Manny did call and talk to him, and we appreciated that.”

A Dwyane Wade turned 37 on Thursday, and he ultimately ended up nailing one prediction.

“It’s crazy,” he said Thursday, “but when I was in high school, it’s in the yearbook, I said in 20 years I see myself retiring to spend time with my wife and kids and being one of the greatest to play the game.” Both of those predictions turned out to be right; that yearbook comment from his high school in Oak Lawn, Illinois, has been shared on social media.

A Bam Adebayo is 21st among 36 qualifying centers in rebounds per 48 minutes ( Hassan Whiteside is first), and Miami is plus 31 when he’s on the court, but his shooting

must improve; he’s 29 for 86 (33.7 percent) on shots from three to 16 feet. Among those who have made a point to approach him and compliment him after games: Vince Carter, Victor Olapido and Nene.

So why haven’t the

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Marlins signed a single free agent to a guaranteed major-league contract this offseason? They would prefer to first trade J.T. Realmuto — and see what they get back — so they know what needs must be filled around him. They’re also waiting for the market to settle, with a ton of players still unsigned.

They have $64 million committed to eight players: Wei-Yin Chen ($20 million), Martin Prado

($15 million), Starlin Castro ($11 million), Realmuto ($5.9 million), Dan Straily ($5 million), Miguel Rojas ($3.15million), José Ureña ($3.2 million) and Adam Conley ($1.1 million).

Factoring in low-money deals for the rest of the players currently on the

potential 25-man roster — none of whom are eligible for arbitration — that would bring the payroll to about $74 million. The Marlins have said they have

$80 million to $90 million to spend this winter.

But trading Realmuto and Straily would leave a projected payroll of

$64 million — if the Marlins don’t get back players earning more than the minimum range. That would leave room for February upgrades in free agency. The Marlins want to add a left-handed bat who can play the outfield and infield. One of the team’s starting outfielders for this season likely isn’t on the roster yet.

For now, the Marlins don’t have a single proven big-league outfielder, unless Brian Anderson plays there. But Anderson will be needed at third base unless Prado is healthy and productive. Peter O’Brien, Garrett Cooper and perhaps Prado will compete at first.