While not every player carrying a hefty contract is a release candidate, Miami still has roster holes to address, and Tyreek Hill remains a central name in those conversations. Around the league, there is little expectation that the player will be back with the Dolphins, especially after he openly expressed a desire to move on. And now, ESPN‘s Aaron Schatz has reported that the player will search for a new home.

“The Dolphins will cut Hill,” Schatz mentioned, conveying a possible final decision. “He had already declined last season and will be 32 in 2026. Cutting Hill with a post-June 1 designation would save the Dolphins $36 million on the cap and is a much easier decision than figuring out what to do with Tagovailoa’s huge contract. Cutting the quarterback would actually cost the Dolphins cap space.”

Hill missed most of the 2025 season due to a dislocated knee. When he played (just four games), he did not have the same impact as in previous years with the Miami Dolphins. With nearly $30 million counting against the 2026 cap, Miami may not be able to keep him on the team. Let us not forget the massive $51.9 million cap charge attached to his contract. It goes without saying that there was no chance of Hill returning on that deal, even without the injury.

According to ESPN projections, cutting Hill with a post-June 1 designation could save Miami $36 million in cap space. Plus, there are other things that could lead to his exit.

Hill will be 32 years old in 2026, and league insiders believe the Dolphins are ready to move in a younger direction instead of betting on a comeback season.

The player himself has been linked to a return to the Chiefs over the last few months. After a good two initial postseason runs under Mike McDaniel, the receiver has been consistently on the decline, failing to hit the 1,000-yard mark in the last two years. With the Chiefs in need of a reliable WR, too, this might just be a match made in heaven.

Tyreek Hill recorded 21 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown during the 2025 season. Injuries limited his role, and he only played four games in the regular season. If the team has already mapped his exit, they will also need to pick receivers. Jahan Dotson of the Philadelphia Eagles and CJ Daniels of the Miami Hurricanes could be great but cheaper options.

However, Hill’s potential departure is just the start. Miami’s offseason could see more big names on the move, with the team’s star quarterback possibly set to leave the franchise.

Miami Dolphins set to part ways with Tua Tagovailoa, per report

As the NFL season is over and changes are already underway, the Dolphins turned their attention to the quarterback spot. After weeks of review, Miami’s new leadership has reached a clear decision on Tua Tagovailoa’s future with the team. They will likely move on from him.

Tagovailoa’s best year was 2023, when he threw for 4,624 yards with 29 touchdowns. His strong play earned him a spot in his first Pro Bowl. However, it’s been two years since then, and his yardage has dropped by nearly 2,000.

In the 2025 season, he played just 14 games and went 6-8.

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Rookie Quinn Ewers started a couple of games toward the end of the season. And this was an early sign about Tagovailoa’s future with the team. NFL insiders like Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo said on NFL GameDay Morning that the Dolphins are likely to trade or release Tua Tagovailoa.

A decision on his future is anticipated to come before the new league year begins on March 11.

Moving Tagovailoa via trade remains on the table, but Miami would almost certainly be forced to absorb a significant portion of his fully guaranteed $54 million salary for 2026, along with an immediate $45.2 million dead-cap hit this year, according to Pelissero. Alternatively, releasing Tagovailoa would give the Dolphins the option to distribute close to $100 million in dead money over the next two seasons.

As things stand, the team is already in starting-fresh mode, having hired former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as head coach on a five-year deal. New general manager Jon Eric Sullivan is also leading the rebuild, as the team looks to reset its roster.

With tight cap space and new leadership, Miami is ready to move on from familiar players. The next few months will decide the team’s new direction and how they approach the 2026 season.