Why giving Tyreek Hill a new contract should be Dolphins’ No.1 priority?
Since the 2023 Super Bowl, Tyreek Hill has sought an extension but unlike other receivers, he remains committed to the Dolphins' Super Bowl win. But for how long?
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Extending Tyreek Hill's contract should be Miami Dolphins priority (Image via IMAGO)
The Miami Dolphins stand in a precarious position in regards to providing a new deal to Tyreek Hill. Into his 9th season as a wide receiver in the NFL, Hill wants to secure a deal amidst the ever-rising receiver market.
There’s no doubt that Tyreek Hill is one of the best wide receivers in the league. He was electric for the Kansas City Chiefs, and moving to Miami has only helped to increase his productivity.
In the two years since the move, Hill has averaged 119 receptions for 1750 yards and 10 touchdowns. He became the only player in NFL history to record 1700 receiving yards in consecutive seasons. Last year, he was on course to break the all-time receiving yards milestone, but a bad ankle toward the end of the campaign hindered his output.
Even though Hill is 30 years old, he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Instead, he only has eyes for the prize, and for that to happen, the Dolphins have to make him happy by giving him a new deal.
At the end of the day, if you feel like you’re [in the top] 5 at something, That’s like if you work at Amazon. If you’re one of the best Amazon delivery drivers, you’re going to feel a certain type of way. You’re going to go to your boss and say, ‘Hey, I’m doing 100 routes and this person is only doing 65 [routes]. I’m supposed to be the top-paid person. You feel me?’ [So] if you feel like you deserve something, go get it. Top 5. All day,.Tyreek Hill said during the Dolphins minicamp, per the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Giving Tyreek Hill a new contract could be tricky for the Dolphins
According to Spotrac, Tyreek Hill signed a four-year $120 million deal with the Miami Dolphins in 2022, which is $30 million a year on paper, including a $25 million signing bonus and $72 million guaranteed.
However, that’s just the half of it. In reality, the last year of his contract is inflated to $45 million, which he may never earn if there’s a new deal or the Dolphins part ways with him before 2026. So, essentially, it’s a three-year $25 million deal, which places him alongside the Eagles’ DeVonta Smith, who recently penned a three-year $75 million deal.
Since the start of the offseason, the wide receiver market has reset several times. If the trend continues, then the league may see a few more before the new season begins.
It began with the Detroit Lions paying Amon-Ra St. Brown a four-year, $120 million deal with a $77 million guarantee after racking up more than 1500 receiving yards in 2023. The Eagles went one better by agreeing to a three-year $96 million extension ($33 million) with AJ Brown, courtesy of a consecutive 1450+ receiving yards season, including a Super Bowl appearance.
However, the Minnesota Vikings shattered all the previous records when they extended Justin Jefferson’s contract. They gave him a four-year, $140 million deal, including $110 million fully guaranteed. Jefferson will earn $35 million annually, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league, surpassing 49ers pass rusher Nick Bosa ($34 million annually).
New deals around the league will increase the bar for the Dolphins
The extension of player contacts will likely continue, especially for two big-name receivers. The ongoing negotiation battle between the 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk doesn’t appear to be ending anytime soon. Aiyuk claimed he would have been happy to earn similar wages as St. Brown’s $27.5 million a year, but the 49ers delaying the negotiations raised the bar high.
CeeDee Lamb is the other high-profile receiver in line for a new deal. He will play in his contract year for the Dallas Cowboys and has so far refused to show up for offseason OTAs or minicamps. He is likely to miss training camp at Oxnard later this month.
If both teams complete the deals before Hill receives his, then the asking price would rise even more, even though the Super Bowl winner isn’t too keen on it. He has previously claimed that he wants to finish his career in Miami with a couple more rings in his bag. Hill remains content with the position he is in, and his only aim is to win the Super Bowl.
The Dolphins need to find a way to extend Hill’s contract
Hill is the No. 1 receiver for the Dolphins. Head coach Mike McDaniel and offensive coordinator Frank Smith molded the offense to unleash Hill. His pace and skillful route running are the USP of the Dolphins’ attack.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean they have to give him a new contract. First of all, they already agreed on a three-year, $84 million deal with No. 2 receiver Jaylen Waddle, which took away a large portion of the salary cap. On top of that, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is due an extension and is in his contract year.
The Dolphins need to decide quickly which player is important to them: the quarterback or the All-Pro receiver, who is 30. In Hill’s case, he has only played two years of his current deal, and teams generally don’t agree to an extension with three years still remaining.
According to the ongoing contract, Hill will earn $19.765 million in the 2024 season. The Dolphins can always add several clauses, like giving extra incentives that would raise the money from $25 million.
Alternatively, they can spread the $45 million to 2024, 2025, and 2026. If they lower Hill’s 2026 salary to $30 million, it will increase the compensation to $27.7 million in 2025. They could pay him the extra money as roster bonus.
Regardless, the Dolphins have a big task on their hands. They can’t afford to make Tyreek Hill unhappy because they require his strengths. They were the league’s best offense last season and the sixth-best the year before because of Hill’s numbers. So, if he decided to just quit the team, the Dolphins’ hopes of winning a Super Bowl would be shortened by some distance.
Then again, they should refrain from a long extension. Even though Hill remains the fastest in the league, there’s no guarantee he will possess the same speed and agility when he is 33 or 34.
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Ishan Misra
(3023 Articles Published)