tyreek hill released by Dolphins in sweeping, cost-saving overhaul
On Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 (ET), the Miami Dolphins cut ties with wide receiver Tyreek Hill in a dramatic roster reset that produced immediate salary-cap relief and signaled a fresh start under a new front office. The move — the most high-profile of several releases — leaves Hill a free agent as he rehabs from a serious leg injury suffered during the 2025 season.
A seismic, cap-driven decision
The Dolphins announced a series of moves Monday that included the releases of Hill, guard James Daniels and wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, with another veteran pass rusher likely to follow in a post-June 1 designation. Collectively, the cuts clear more than $56 million in 2026 cap space and flip the team’s financial posture; just 24 hours earlier the roster was estimated to be roughly $17. 4 million over the cap.
Hill’s departure is the biggest shock among the changes. The 31-year-old veteran — set to turn 32 in March — is an eight-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro who finished his Dolphins tenure with 11, 363 receiving yards and 83 touchdowns on 819 career receptions. He was limited to four appearances in 2025 after suffering a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments, including an ACL, in Week 4. At the time of the injury he had 21 catches for 265 yards and one touchdown.
Immediate and longer-term implications for Hill
Hill is eligible to sign with another team immediately rather than waiting for the new league year in March, but the combination of age and a major leg injury makes his next step uncertain. With his contract structure, a portion of his salary would have become fully guaranteed this month, which factored into the timing of the move.
When healthy, Hill remains one of the most dangerous deep threats of the modern era; after his trade from Kansas City he posted consecutive 1, 700-plus-yard seasons in his first two years with Miami, including a career-high 1, 799 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns in 2023. While it’s unlikely any future role will immediately match those peak production levels, teams in need of explosiveness and receiving pedigree could still view Hill as an intriguing, albeit medically complicated, option this offseason.
Roster ripple effects and the path ahead for Miami
Hill’s exit compounds broader roster turnover. With the veteran departures, Miami is left with two receivers who posted double-digit catches last season: Jaylen Waddle and Malik Washington. Several contributors, including Cedrick Wilson and D’Wayne Eskridge, are pending free agents. Quarterback continuity is also in question, adding another layer of uncertainty to how the receiving corps will be rebuilt.
The newfound cap space and the team’s No. 11 overall pick in April give the front office clear levers to reshape the roster quickly. Management has signaled a willingness to remake both the pass-rushing and receiving rooms after back-to-back losing seasons halted the franchise’s momentum. Expect aggressive activity in free agency and the draft as the organization seeks to replace production and reorient around the new coaching and personnel vision.
For Hill, the coming weeks will be a crucial period of medical evaluation and decision-making. For the Dolphins, Monday’s moves mark the end of an era and the opening of a multi-faceted rebuild that will define the roster heading into the 2026 campaign.
