Dolphins cut Tyreek Hill in President’s Day roster purge, clearing big cap space
In one of the most seismic offseason moves to date, the Miami Dolphins released five-time All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 (ET), part of a broader, cap-driven shakeup that clears substantial payroll space and signals a full-scale roster rebuild.
Mass roster overhaul creates more than $56 million in 2026 cap space
The release of Hill came amid a flurry of transactions that also included parting ways with pass rusher Bradley Chubb, guard James Daniels and wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Those cuts collectively create in excess of $56 million in 2026 salary-cap room as the team’s new coaching and front-office regime begins reshaping the roster.
Team officials have announced the releases of Hill, Westbrook-Ikhine and Daniels. Chubb has not been officially released and could be designated as a post-June 1 cut to maximize long-term cap relief. The timing of the moves is notable: Hill had an $11 million portion of his deal set to fully guarantee this month, and his departure prevents that guarantee from vesting.
The cap breathing room moves Miami from being roughly $17. 4 million over the cap into a much more flexible position heading into free agency and the draft. The club also holds the No. 11 overall pick in April, and the new resources will be used to address multiple roster holes as the franchise pivots away from the previous era.
Hill’s health, career arc and market outlook
Hill, an eight-time Pro Bowler with five first-team All-Pro honors, will enter free agency ahead of his age-32 season. He finishes his Dolphins tenure with 819 receptions for 11, 363 yards and 83 touchdowns. The speedster’s 2025 campaign was cut short when he suffered a dislocated knee and torn ligaments in Week 4; at the time of the injury he had posted 21 catches for 265 yards and one touchdown.
Hill is currently rehabbing from the major leg injury, and there remains uncertainty about when — or if — he will be ready to play in 2026. He is free to sign with another club immediately rather than waiting for the new league year in March, but age and the severity of the knee injury all but guarantee teams will weigh medical evaluations heavily before making a long-term commitment. A reunion with his former team has already been publicly floated by a former Kansas City teammate, who urged Hill to consider coming back, but whether Hill seeks a fresh start elsewhere or a second chance where he once excelled is an open question.
Wide receiver room, quarterback uncertainty and next steps
With Hill and Westbrook-Ikhine gone, Miami’s receiving corps is suddenly thin. Only two players who reached double-digit catches last season remain on the roster: Jaylen Waddle and Malik Washington. Slot options and depth pieces are limited; Cedrick Wilson and D’Wayne Eskridge are pending free agents, and the team will almost certainly pursue multiple additions in free agency and the draft.
Off-field questions add another layer of complexity. Quarterback uncertainty looms, and the offense will need more than one splash acquisition to get back on track after consecutive losing seasons. The personnel changes mark the start of Year 1 under head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, who are signaling a clear break from the previous coaching era. Fans and evaluators should expect continued roster activity as the club tries to rebuild quickly with an eye toward both immediate help and long-term flexibility.
Hill’s release is the most headline-grabbing move in Monday’s purge, but it’s just the opening salvo in what promises to be a very active offseason for a team intent on a rapid turnaround.
