The Miami Dolphins topped one blockbuster deal on Tuesday night with an even bigger one on Wednesday, trading for Kansas City Chiefs star wide receiver Tyreek Hill — possibly the fastest player in the NFL.
After landing prized free-agent tackle Terron Armstead to solidify the offensive line the day before, the Dolphins added the speedy Hill, giving quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Miami’s offense the top-of-the-line deep receiving threat they desperately needed.
According to agent Drew Rosenhaus, the Dolphins are giving Hill a four-year, $120 million extension that includes $72.2 million guaranteed. The deal makes him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL, based on average annual salary.
The trade with Kansas City involves the Dolphins sending five draft picks: their 2022 first-round pick that previously belonged to the 49ers (No. 29), a second-rounder (No. 50) and fourth-rounder, plus fourth- and sixth-round picks in the 2023 draft.
“End of an era,” Hill posted on Twitter on Wednesday evening after the Dolphins also announced the move. “Miami I’m coming home.”
He penned a farewell message to Kansas City, but also wrote, “Today starts anew beginning. I’m very excited to be joining the Miami Dolphins and get to work.”
Hill has been a Pro Bowl selection in each of his six NFL seasons, with three first-team All-Pro selections. He has 479 career receptions for 6,630 yards and 56 touchdowns, plus five more postseason receiving scores. He has six rushing touchdowns and has returned four punts and one kickoff for touchdowns, with all coming during his first three seasons. The Chiefs have seldom used the 5-foot-10, 185-pound speedster on returns the past few seasons, minimizing injury risk.
Hill was on the Chiefs’ 2019 Super Bowl-winning team that topped the San Francisco 49ers, who had new Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel on the staff, in Miami Gardens.
The addition of Hill is immense for Tagovailoa heading into his third season. Hill will be paired with Jaylen Waddle, who broke an NFL rookie receptions record in 2021. Among others, Miami also has oft-injured veteran DeVante Parker under contract and signed former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr., who could most play in the slot. Tight end Mike Gesicki, who was given the franchise tag, also often lines up in the slot or out wide.
But Hill and his high contract will be the centerpiece.
Hill’s on-field success has not come without off-field troubles. He was arrested on domestic violence charges in 2014 that let to his dismissal after one season with the Oklahoma State football program, after spending two seasons at Garden City Community College. His then-girlfriend, who was pregnant, said she was choked by Hill, who also punched her in the stomach and face. Hill eventually pled guilty and reached a plea agreement of three years of probation. Hill’s 2016 draft status suffered from the arrest, as he fell to the fifth round and was not invited to the scouting combine, but ran a 4.25-second 40-yard dash at his pro day.
In 2019, police in suburban Kansas City investigated Hill and his then-fiancée for possible child abuse, but ultimately no charges were ever filed. The Chiefs suspended Hill during part of the inquiry, and the NFL also investigated. The NFL said it could not conclude that Hill broke the league’s personal conduct policy and took no further action.
NFL Network first reported that extension talks between the Chiefs and Hill had stalled despite an offer that would make Hill one of the highest-paid receivers, and Kansas City then allowed Hill to seek a trade.
The Dolphins’ AFC East rival New York Jets were also deep in trade talks for Hill, according to ESPN. The decision then came down to where Hill wanted to sign his contract extension.
Dolphins assistant general manager Marvin Allen has a connection to Hill as the Chiefs’ director of college scouting for five years, from 2013-17, when Kansas City drafted Hill.
Since Hill entered the league out of West Alabama in 2016, he has led the NFL with 28 deep receiving touchdowns, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, which also said the Dolphins were the only team to fail to connect on multiple deep touchdowns in 2021.
Next Gen also says, since 2018, Hill leads all NFL players with 45 touches where he topped 20 mph as a ball-carrier. The metrics tracker also has Hill and new Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert logging the four fastest speeds since 2016 as Miami’s revamping at the skill positions has made the roster flush with speed.
“Welcome to the squad @cheetah!” Mostert tweeted on Wednesday, tagging Hill’s fitting Twitter handle of his nickname, Cheetah. “The speed is going to be crazy!”
Waddle tweeted three cheetah emojis shortly after news broke. Early in his first training camp with the Dolphins last preseason, Waddle answered to comparisons over him and Hill, saying he has studied him in the past.
“I watch Tyreek a lot,” Waddle said. “He’s a great player. Everyone knows that, so definitely.”
With the Dolphins trading the first two selections they were slated for in the 2022 draft, they won’t make a pick until the third round, No. 102. Instead of eight picks, they now have five in the late April draft, with 102 followed by No. 125 in the fourth round, 158 in the fifth and seventh-rounders 224 and 247. If that remains constant, picking at 102 would be the Dolphins’ latest first selection of a draft in their history, besting the previous mark of No. 90 in 2002, center Seth McKinney.
Along with Armstead, the Dolphins have also looked to upgrade their offensive line with former Cowboys guard Connor Williams. The combination should help Miami protect Tagovailoa in the passing game and also enhance the team’s run-blocking in the outside-zone scheme McDaniel will implement.
McDaniel brought in a pair of free-agent running backs this offseason in Mostert, whom he had in San Francisco, and Chase Edmonds, whom he went up against in the NFC West with the Arizona Cardinals.
The trade fell in place amid an offseason that has shaken up the NFL with movement. Losing Hill, the Chiefs, who still have top quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, trend down with talent on the roster while their AFC West rivals have all added key players.
The Raiders added star receiver Davante Adams and edge defender Chandler Jones. The Los Angeles Chargers brought in top pass-rusher Khalil Mack and cornerback J.C. Jackson to boost a defense that will complement an already-potent offense. The Denver Broncos traded for quarterback Russell Wilson, pushing themselves into contention.
Elsewhere in the conference, the Cleveland Browns traded for quarterback Deshaun Watson and wide receiver Amari Cooper, and the Indianapolis Colts acquired quarterback Matt Ryan. They’re among others to catapult themselves in the AFC while the Cincinnati Bengals, who are coming off a Super Bowl appearance, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers all also made the playoffs in 2021. The Baltimore Ravens, behind quarterback Lamar Jackson, also figure to compete.
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