Dolphins cut Tyreek Hill in sweeping cost-saving overhaul
On Feb. 16, 2026 (ET), the Miami Dolphins surprised the league by releasing five-time All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill as part of a broader roster purge that created significant 2026 salary-cap relief. The move marks the first time Hill will test free agency in his decade-long NFL career and leaves questions about his recovery timeline and next landing spot.
The move and Hill’s current status
Hill, an eight-time Pro Bowler and one of the most feared deep threats of the past decade, is currently rehabbing from a dislocated knee and torn ligaments suffered in Week 4 of last season. He finished that season with 21 catches for 265 yards and one touchdown before the injury ended his campaign. The decision to release Hill comes with immediate financial implications: the club avoided a guarantee that would have fully vested this month on roughly $11 million of his contract and the collective roster cuts free up substantial cap room heading into free agency.
Statistically, Hill leaves with a Hall-of-Fame-caliber combination of speed and production: 819 career receptions for 11, 363 yards and 83 touchdowns. He arrives on the open market as he approaches his age-32 season, a factor teams will weigh alongside the severity of his knee injury and the timetable for a full return.
How Miami’s roster picture changes
The release of Hill is the most seismic of multiple moves made that day, which also included parting ways with a starting guard and other contributors. Those cuts collectively clear over $56 million in 2026 cap space, giving the front office room to retool in free agency and the draft. The franchise now heads into the offseason with two receivers who topped double-digit catches last season: Jaylen Waddle and Malik Washington. Other contributors at the position are set to become free agents, and the team must rebuild depth quickly behind its established duo.
Beyond the receiver room, the organization is confronting broader change. The front office and coaching staff are starting Year 1 of a new regime with an eye toward reshaping the roster after consecutive losing seasons. Cap relief moves like this one also leave the club positioned to pursue targets in free agency and utilize the No. 11 overall pick in April’s draft to add young talent.
Hill’s future: rehab, market and reunion talk
Hill’s release immediately puts his recovery and intentions under the microscope. He can sign with any club immediately, rather than waiting for the new league year in March, but teams will factor age and injury risk into potential offers. His history of elite production — including back-to-back 1, 700-yard seasons in his first two years with the Dolphins and a league-leading 1, 799 yards in 2023 — ensures he remains an intriguing option for contenders looking for an explosive downfield weapon, even if his role is likely to evolve post-injury.
Public reaction has included calls from former teammates urging a reunion with his original franchise, and the possibility of Hill returning to a familiar environment will be part of offseason speculation. Other clubs seeking a veteran receiving threat could pursue him on a short-term deal that balances reward and risk. Ultimately, Hill’s next step will hinge on his rehab progress and on how teams value an elite playmaker who must prove he can regain pre-injury explosiveness.
The NFL landscape has shifted quickly for the Dolphins and for Hill. What began as President’s Day roster housekeeping now signals a broader reset for Miami, while Hill prepares for the uncertain but high-profile task of negotiating his next contract and charting a path back to the field.
