It’s still hard to believe, but the Miami Dolphins have released Tyreek Hill. The Dolphins are starting over, and they have parted ways with the star wideout.
Miami has a new head coach and big questions at quarterback, so tough choices are coming. Hill is 31, recovering from a knee injury, and was entering the last year of his contract with no guaranteed money left before he was released.
Top Free Agency Destinations for Tyreek Hill
Per the PFSN NFL Offense Impact Metric, the Dolphins ranked No. 19 overall with a 73 impact score during the 2025 regular season. Miami finished 7-10 on the season and missed the playoffs, which led to the firing of head coach Mike McDaniel.
In the Week 4 game against the Jets, Hill suffered a significant leg injury in the team’s 27-21 win over their division rival. The injury was gruesome to anyone watching, with Hill’s leg in an awkward position. Shortly after, it was confirmed that he had dislocated his knee and sustained multiple ligament tears, which included a torn ACL.
In four games, Hill recorded 21 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown. In the PFSN NFL WR Impact Metric, his best week came against the New England Patriots. He was graded with a C+ and an impact score of 79.9 after catching six passes for 109 yards.
Here are three teams that make the most sense as landing spots.
Kansas City Chiefs
Any talk about signing Hill has to begin with Kansas City.
Hill and Patrick Mahomes created one of the league’s most exciting partnerships. Hill had four of his six 1,000-yard seasons in Kansas City and won a Super Bowl there. He already knows Andy Reid’s system, so this would be the easiest fit.
This past season, Mahomes had a pretty solid year despite Kansas City’s tough Super Bowl hangover season. Per the PFSN NFL QB Impact Metric, the quarterback finished with a 77 (C+) score. In addition, he threw 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for the season before going down with a torn ACL.
However, the offense for Kansas City has lacked its old X factor. A potential reunion between Hill and Mahomes would instantly spark the Chiefs’ attack.
Earlier this offseason, on a Snapchat clip obtained by an X (formerly Twitter) user named @MLFootball, a fan had posted a comment saying to Hill, “I miss you at KC Reek.”
Hill then responded, “We’ll see what happens in the offseason.” Hill’s response doesn’t explicitly say that he will return to the Chiefs, but it does open up a possibility.
The Chiefs probably wouldn’t have to pay too much for a 31-year-old receiver coming off an injury, but if the price is right and they think Hill still has his speed, it could work.
Los Angeles Chargers
In addition to the Chiefs, the Chargers could make a push for Hill. This option is interesting because Justin Herbert has the arm strength to get the most out of Hill’s speed, and the Chargers have missed having a real game-changer at receiver. With Hill, defenses would have to cover the whole field. The Chargers want to stay competitive in the tough AFC West.
With the Las Vegas Raiders seemingly on track to land Francisco Mendoza with the first overall selection in the upcoming draft, the AFC West is getting even more competitive. Adding Hill would show they’re serious about making a playoff push. The main challenge is money, but from a football perspective, this pairing works well.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers seem like a dark horse in this situation. Pittsburgh has talent, although it’s struggled to make big plays lately. Hill would immediately be their top offensive threat. Just having him on the field would give other players more room to work.
The Steelers also appreciate veteran leadership and experience in big games. Hill has played on the biggest stage and come through. The main questions are fit and cost. But if Pittsburgh thinks they’re just one playmaker away from competing in the AFC, this could be the bold move that raises their potential.
Important Dates in 2026 NFL Free Agency
The legal tampering period runs for 52 hours, opening Monday, March 9, at noon ET and closing at 3:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11, just minutes before free agency officially begins.
During that window, teams can negotiate with the certified agents of players set to become unrestricted free agents. Verbal agreements can be reached and reported, but nothing is official yet.
For the first time, teams can recruit up to five players and speak with each for up to 1 hour via video or phone, rather than routing all contact through agents. The player’s agent must be present on every call. If a team wants to meet a player in person or have him visit a facility, that still must wait until free agency is officially underway.
Free agency officially opens at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11, when the NFL’s new league year begins. That’s when contracts become official, not when they’re reported. The trading period also opens at that moment, allowing previously agreed-upon deals to be completed.
All teams must be cap-compliant by the 4 p.m. Wednesday deadline. The 2026 salary cap is set at $301.2 million, a $22 million increase from 2025.
Most of the market’s top players will have agreed to terms well before Wednesday afternoon. The tampering window exists to give that process structure. What’s new this year is that players themselves, not just their agents, can now hear directly from the teams pursuing them.
