Dolphins cut Tyreek Hill in sweeping salary-cap sweep on President's Day
The Miami Dolphins announced a series of cost-saving moves on Monday, Feb. 17, 2026 (ET), the most consequential of which was the release of five-time All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill. The decision closes Hill’s four-year run with the franchise and opens a new chapter for both the player and a team entering a significant rebuild.
Hill’s injury, career and immediate free-agent outlook
Hill, who will turn 32 on March 1, is currently rehabbing a major left-knee injury sustained in Week 4 of the 2025 season. The injury — a dislocated knee with torn ligaments that required surgery — ended his season after he had recorded 21 receptions for 265 yards and a score. Given the severity of the damage and his age, the timeline for a full return in 2026 remains uncertain.
Over 10 NFL seasons, Hill amassed 819 receptions for 11, 363 yards and 83 touchdowns, cementing his status as one of the game’s most dangerous deep threats during his peak years. His first two seasons in Miami produced consecutive 1, 700-plus-yard campaigns; in 2023 he led the league with 1, 799 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. Despite the injury, Hill is eligible to sign with another club immediately rather than waiting for the new league year in March, though any potential suitor will weigh his recovery timeline and age in free-agency evaluations.
Roster moves, cap impact and the new front-office direction
Hill’s release was part of a flurry of roster transactions that also included the departures of guard James Daniels and receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, with pass rusher Bradley Chubb expected to be moved in a manner that could maximize future cap savings. Collectively, the cuts clear in excess of $56 million in 2026 salary-cap space, a swing that transforms a roster previously projected to be over the cap into one with flexibility ahead of free agency and the draft.
The moves come in Year 1 of the Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan era, a clear signal that the new leadership is willing to take blunt steps to reshape the roster. The organization now enters free agency with breathing room and possession of the No. 11 overall pick in April’s draft, positioning the team to pursue help across multiple areas, notably the wide receiver room and the pass rush.
With Hill gone, Miami’s top returning pass-catchers who logged double-digit catches in 2025 are Jaylen Waddle and Malik Washington. Several other receivers and offensive contributors are pending free agency, leaving the depth chart thin and the need for reinforcements urgent. The quarterback situation also remains unsettled, adding another layer of uncertainty as the front office plans upgrades.
What’s next for Hill and the Dolphins
For Hill, the release crystallizes a crossroads: continue rehabbing with an eye toward returning to play for a contender, or step back and reassess after a decorated career that includes multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. Teams in need of veteran receiving talent will likely monitor his recovery closely, but offers may reflect a risk-adjusted valuation tied to his knee rehabilitation.
For the Dolphins, Monday’s decisions represent a decisive pivot away from several holdovers from the previous regime. The organization has prioritized creating cap flexibility and roster turnover that should allow for aggressive moves this offseason. How the front office deploys that flexibility — through free-agent signings, trades or draft-day maneuvering — will define the early chapters of the Hafley-Sullivan tenure and determine whether the team can reverse recent on-field decline.
Monday’s cuts are substantial both in financial and roster terms, and they leave a clear message: a comprehensive rebuild is underway.
