Hello, I’m Dan Gartland. Even though NFL Sundays are big, I found some time to enjoy an exceptional value in sports: watching a minor league hockey game.
In today’s SI:AM:
Reasons each team could clinch the Super Bowl
Top coaching prospects
Thunder’s consecutive victories
Who will be Tua’s primary receiver next season?
The NFL season just concluded, and one of the major off-season questions is: What are the Miami Dolphins going to do with Tyreek Hill?
Following Sunday’s season finale, Hill announced he was finished with playing in Miami. When reporters approached him after the game, he initially spoke about needing to “do what’s best for me and my family” but clarified his intentions when further questioned.
“I’m opening that door for myself, man,” Hill continued. “I’m heading out. It was wonderful playing here, but ultimately I need to do what’s best for my career. I’m too competitive to just go through the motions.”
Coach Mike McDaniel attempted to minimize the impact of Hill’s statements.
“I wouldn’t put too much stock into postgame comments made in disappointment,” McDaniel remarked. “We’ll see how things evolve over the next few days during our conversations.”
Hill just had one of the least impressive seasons of his career, catching 81 passes for 959 yards. His only other seasons without surpassing 1,000 yards were his rookie year in 2016 and in 2019 when he missed four games due to a shoulder injury. This follows a peak season last year where he led the league in receiving yards (1,799) and tied for the most receiving touchdowns (13). He was one of only eight players since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to average at least 110 receiving yards per game over at least 10 games.
Hill’s significant performance last season coincided with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa playing all games, but Tua missed six games this season due to injuries. During Tua’s absence, Hill only managed 14 catches for 140 yards in the first four games, notably underperforming in a Week 7 defeat to Indianapolis Colts where he was targeted just twice.
“There are ups and downs, I get how it works,” Hill said later that week as Tagovailoa resumed practice. “I won’t lose my cool over football. I’ll focus on what I can control, like running the correct routes, being in the right place, and being a supportive teammate.”
However, something seems to have shifted. His comment after Sunday’s game, “I’m too much of a competitor to be just out there,” suggests he’s unhappy with his role. He had nine catches for 105 yards in a win over the Cleveland Browns last week but only caught two passes for 20 yards in Sunday’s crucial game.
If Hill is serious about leaving, this puts the Dolphins in a tough spot. Trading him before June 1 would barely ease their salary cap – they would save only $401,250, according to Spotrac. But a post-June 1 trade would save them $15.9 million. Opting for a trade before June would be preferable as it would not prolong the issue and would allow them to use this year’s draft picks. However, finding a team willing to take on nearly $30 million for a 31-year-old speed receiver coming off a disappointing season might prove challenging.
Even if Hill doesn’t return to peak form next season, his absence will be felt. The trio of Tagovailoa, Hill, and McDaniel in 2022 led to a significant offensive improvement for Miami. Tagovailoa, who had average performances in his first two seasons, has excelled since Hill’s arrival, achieving passer ratings over 100 for three consecutive seasons – a unique feat among NFL quarterbacks.
Losing Hill would undoubtedly impact Tagovailoa’s performance negatively. While the Dolphins have another excellent receiver in Jaylen Waddle, who also saw a dip in performance this season after surpassing 1,000 yards in his first three seasons, anyone stepping into the No. 2 role behind Waddle would be a downgrade from the Hill-Waddle duo.
Hill seemed resolute on Sunday about trying his luck elsewhere, but the Dolphins’ playoff prospects for 2025 might depend on whether McDaniel can persuade him to stay in Miami.
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