Dolphins release WR Tyreek Hill in flurry of roster moves
The Miami Dolphins stunned the NFL landscape Monday by releasing Pro Bowl wide receiver Tyreek Hill as part of a multi-player purge that also involved linebacker Bradley Chubb, offensive lineman James Daniels and wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. The moves clear meaningful salary-cap room and mark a clear shift in roster philosophy under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan.
Financial reset and front-office direction
The departures are designed to reset the payroll picture. The initial wave will save the team roughly $23 million against the 2026 cap, and that number would rise to about $30 million if Chubb’s exit is processed immediately rather than as a post-June 1 transaction. The timing aligns with the approaching tampering window on March 9 and the formal start of the new league year at 4: 00 p. m. ET on March 11.
Hill arrived in South Florida a blockbuster trade in 2022 that cost a haul of draft picks and led to a four-year, $120 million extension. He produced some of the most dynamic seasons in the league’s recent memory — back-to-back 1, 700-yard campaigns in 2022 and 2023 — but production dipped to 81 catches for 959 yards and six touchdowns in 2024. An injury sustained in Week 4 of the 2025 season, a dislocated knee and torn ACL, ended his year and now leaves the 32-year-old a free agent for the first time in a decade-long career.
Chubb, another high-profile name in the transaction sweep, has been beset by major knee injuries in his career but returned to play all 17 games in 2025 and led the team with 8. 5 sacks. The club faces a sizable $31 million cap hit tied to Chubb in 2026, and his age and injury history — including torn ACLs in both knees — were part of the calculus in the decision to move on.
What’s next for Hill and the veteran veterans
Hill issued a public message thanking teammates, staff and fans while promising his career is far from over: “The Cheetah don’t slow down. Ever. So to everyone wondering what's next... just wait on it. The Cheetah will be back... Born Again, ” he wrote.
Interest in Hill is expected to be immediate but tempered. He is recovering from major knee surgery and will carry the durability questions that come with a 10-year career and a significant lower-body injury. Some evaluations project his market value will be well below his prior earnings, with estimates that a one-year deal in the mid-teens of millions is possible if teams are willing to gamble on a rebound.
There was an early public pitch from a former teammate urging a reunion with his original franchise, highlighting the narrative threads that make Hill one of the most talked-about names on the market. That team, however, is facing its own salary-cap constraints and may find it difficult to absorb a big-ticket signing without roster gymnastics.
Other veterans released in the moves may find suitors sooner rather than later. Chubb’s 2025 rebound and leadership resume — he served as a team captain and was praised for his professionalism — should attract interest from clubs seeking a veteran edge rusher who, if healthy, can still produce. Daniels, who signed a multi-year deal the previous offseason, and Westbrook-Ikhine will also be available to teams looking to add depth and experience ahead of free agency.
Roster ripple effects and the coming market
These cuts are emblematic of a front-office reset. A new general manager arriving with a mandate to restructure the roster often makes tough decisions that prioritize financial flexibility and future-building. Clearing cap room now gives the team more options during the upcoming free-agency window and into the draft.
For the league, Hill’s release places one of the game’s most electric playmakers on the open market while raising questions about how teams value post-injury veterans who have elite production histories. Expect a crowded marketplace and plenty of negotiation windows over the next several weeks as teams balance need, salary-cap realities and medical evaluations.
With the tampering period opening March 9 and the new league year beginning at 4: 00 p. m. ET on March 11, the next fortnight should produce swift answers on where these veterans land and how teams deploy newly available salary-cap space.
