The Miami Dolphins are confronting one of the most consequential decisions of the offseason: what to do with superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
After an ACL tear derailed his 2025 season and with Miami facing tight salary cap realities, league insiders are openly debating whether Hill will still be in South Florida when the 2026 NFL season begins.
Miami acquired Hill in 2022 from the Kansas City Chiefs, where he had been one of Patrick Mahomes‘ most explosive weapons.
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But with a projected $51.1 million cap hit in 2026 and only a single year left on his contract with no guaranteed salary for that season, the financial burden has become a central part of trade discussions, even as Hill remains one of the most dynamic offensive talents in the NFL.
Hill‘s knee injury, which included multiple torn ligaments and required surgery, complicates the calculus further.
Recovery timelines for significant knee injuries can vary, and how quickly or fully he returns to form will be key to both Miami‘s plans and how other contenders evaluate him.
Contract realities and cap pressure
League contract trackers show that Hill‘s current deal was restructured in 2024 to a three-year, $90 million agreement, but the bulk of that money hits the Dolphins‘ books in 2026.
With none of that $29.9 million base salary for 2026 currently guaranteed, Miami has options, though they come with financial ripple effects.
Over the Cap, an NFL salary analytics site, notes that trading Hill before June 1 could reduce Miami‘s cap burden significantly, freeing up space for other roster moves if the team absorbs some of the dead money.
Waiting until later in the offseason or designating a post-June 1 move can spread cap charges over two league years, giving the team more breathing room.
Still, cutting Hill outright without negotiation would trigger a large dead cap figure, making timing and method central to any decision.
The Dolphins‘ broader cap situation, projected to be under pressure even with the salary cap rising leaguewide, means officials are weighing all possible avenues to improve financial flexibility.
Hill’s defining chapter with the Chiefs
A return to the Chiefs would be monumental for Hill, who previously referred to the Chiefs as “home”.
Hill carved out one of the most electrifying wide receiver careers with the Kansas City Chiefs, a six-season run that helped reshape the franchise’s identity and left an indelible mark on the NFL landscape.
Selected by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Hill quickly justified his draft slot with a rare combination of speed, playmaking flair, and big-moment production.
In his rookie season, he caught 61 passes for 593 yards and six touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl nod and announcing himself as a special talent early in his career.
By his second year, Hill had surpassed 1,000 receiving yards, a feat he replicated in 2018 with 87 receptions for 1,479 yards and 12 touchdowns, setting Chiefs franchise benchmarks that stood as a testament to his impact.
Over six seasons in Kansas City, Hill accumulated 479 catches for 6,630 yards and 67 touchdowns, numbers that underscore his role as Patrick Mahomes‘ premier downfield threat and a matchup nightmare for defenses.
One of Hill‘s most memorable Chiefs performances came in 2020 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when he hauled in 13 catches for 269 yards and three touchdowns, including a clutch third-down conversion late in the fourth quarter that sealed the 27-24 victory.
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