The Miami Dolphins are in a position that no team wants to be in.
They aren't good enough to contend, or even make the playoffs, but they also have one of the worst cap situations in the league. Per Over the Cap, the Dolphins are one of five teams projected to have deficits of $25 million or more in effective cap space in 2026.
Luckily, there are a few moves that could give the team some breathing room. Logan Ulrich of NFL Trade Rumors predicts that the team will cut star wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who is seemingly always unhappy these days.
There was plenty of speculation about a Hill trade before the 2025 season, but the parties came to a temporary solution. However, Hill's reaction to the recent benching of Tua Tagovailoa seems to indicate he's ready to move on.
Regarding Hill possibly being cut, Ulrich offered the following:
As scheduled, Hill is due $35 million from Miami, but none of it is guaranteed and Hill is not going to play a snap on his contract as currently constructed.
Cutting Hill saves the Dolphins a pile of cash and $23.65 million in cap savings, getting them most of the way out of the hole. It also nearly doubles their current dead money bill by adding another $28 million.
As Ulrich mentioned, the Dolphins could almost get all the way out of the hole simply by releasing Hill.
2025 was a lost season for the veteran receiver anyways. Hill suffered a season-ending injury in September after only playing in four games.
Still, Hill has been one of the best wide receivers of his generation and would almost assuredly have plenty of interest from other teams. The receiver has eight Pro Bowl selections, one Super Bowl win, five First-team All-Pro selections, and led the league in receiving yards in 2023.
Hill had 119 catches in each of his first two seasons with the Dolphins. The receiver had 1,710 yards in 2022 and 1,799 yards in 2023. In 2024, though, the receiver had his worst season since 2019, and then had an offseason full of drama before his season-ending injury in 2025.
It's clear at this point that both sides need a fresh start. The team will have a new general manager, possibly a new head coach, and likely a new quarterback. Hill has made it known he wants to play for a competitor, so the writing is on the wall.