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Despite backtracking, Tyreek Hill and Dolphins are headed for collision
Tyreek Hill. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Despite backtracking, Tyreek Hill and Dolphins are headed for collision

Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill clarified comments he made following the regular season about wanting "out" of Miami.

While the seas have calmed, the waters can still get choppy.

According to ESPN Dolphins reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques, Hill recently explained that his demand was due to his exasperation over Miami's disappointing season.

"What y'all had heard at the end of the season was frustration," Hill said. "I've been winning my whole life."

The Dolphins ended 2024 with an 8-9 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since acquiring Hill from the Chiefs in a March 2022 trade.

Hill pulled himself from Miami's regular-season finale loss at the Jets in the second half when it became apparent the Dolphins wouldn't make the playoffs.

Afterward, he told reporters, "I'm out, bruh. It was great playing here, but at the end of the day, I have to do what's best for my career."

Hill's position may have cooled in the weeks since, but there's a solid chance this won't be the last time he butts heads with the Dolphins.

When explaining his end-of-season comments, Hill discussed what needs to change for Miami to be an AFC contender.

"We've got to come back, we got to put some pressure on motherf------," Hill said in an expletive-filled response. "Y'all got to fix this s---, come on. Add some motherf------ dogs in this b----."

Adding talent will be difficult. Per Over The Cap, the Dolphins are projected to be $11.9 million over the estimated 2025 salary cap.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ($39.18 million) has the largest cap number, followed by edge-rusher Bradley Chubb ($28.66 million). Both players dealt with injuries in 2024, with Tagovailoa missing six games due to a concussion and hip injury.

Chubb (knee) missed the entire 2024 season after tearing his ACL on Dec. 31, 2023 against the Ravens.

Hill has the team's third-highest cap number ($27.698 million), roughly 10.1% of the team's salary cap.

The five-time first-team All-Pro had 81 receptions for 959 yards and six touchdowns.

The Dolphins aren't in a position to splurge during free agency. Their best path to a better 2025 is for their highest-paid players to play like stars. But inactivity could cause Hill's frustrations to bubble to the surface again. 

With its salary-cap limitations, Miami might only be delaying its next blow-up with its star receiver. 

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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