HEADLINES

Tyreek Hill Aiming For New Contract

June 3rd, 2024 at 10:36am CST by Sam Robinson

JUNE 3: While speaking about Hill’s contract status with WSVN7’s Josh Moser, agent Drew Rosenhaus said he has a “fluid line of communication” with the Dolphins’ front office (video link). Justin Jefferson‘s Vikings extension has, to no surprise, moved the top of the receiver market even higher. Hill will no doubt look to take advantage of that as talks pertaining to a new deal take place.

MAY 30: The Dolphins have acted early with Jaylen Waddle, making the younger of their two 1,000-yard wide receivers the NFL’s fourth-highest-paid pass catcher. Already employing the No. 3 player on that list, the Dolphins look to have a bit of an issue on their hands.

Tyreek Hill has used the Miami portion of his career to cement his status as a surefire Hall of Famer, separating from Patrick Mahomes and thriving on his own. The historically elite speed merchant has posted back-to-back 1,700-yard seasons. While Waddle is younger, Hill has worked as the Dolphins’ clear-cut No. 1 target during his two South Florida seasons.

[RELATED: Hill Wants To Finish Career With Dolphins]

The wideout market has caught up to Hill, whose $30MM-per-year deal paced the field for more than two years. Agreed to in March 2022, Hill’s four-year, $120MM Dolphins extension included a phony final year that calls for a $43.9MM base salary — one that almost definitely will not be paid. The guarantees in Hill’s current pact run out after the 2024 season. Prior to Waddle’s $28.25MM-AAV payday, A.J. Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown passed Hill for per-year value. Other wideouts have scored better-looking contracts since Hill’s extension, even if they did not hit the $30MM-AAV number.

Prior to St. Brown and Brown’s accords, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio indicates Hill has been pursuing a new contract. Hill approached the Dolphins about a new deal following the 2023 season, and Florio adds the ninth-year veteran’s efforts increased when the Eagles handed Brown a second extension — worth a market-setting $32MM per year. Like Hill, Brown’s previous contract was signed in spring 2022 and ran through 2026. As a rule, teams steer clear of major contract adjustments with three seasons remaining. But Hill’s camp has undoubtedly pointed to his production surpassing Brown’s.

While giving the Chiefs a downfield dimension they have lacked since making the trade, Hill eclipsed 1,300 yards in a season once in six Kansas City slates. The Davante Adams extension changed Hill’s asking price in 2022, and the Chiefs shifted from Hill extension talks to a trade and have since won two more Super Bowls without a No. 1-caliber wideout. The Dolphins have seen Hill elevate Tua Tagovailoa‘s production considerably, and no wideout’s yardage comes within 400 yards of Hill’s total (3,509) over the past two years. Granted, Justin Jefferson — the NFL’s runaway yardage leader from 2021-22 — missed much of last season due to injury. Jefferson’s Vikings negotiations also figure to motivate Hill.

As Brown could factor in more prime years into negotiations with the Eagles, Jefferson is going into his age-25 season. The Minnesota-based wideout is poised to eclipse Brown’s new AAV benchmark ($32MM) by a notable margin. Having turned 30 earlier this offseason and being signed through 2026, Hill does not stand in a similarly strong negotiating position.

Already playing two seasons on a contract that included $52.5MM fully guaranteed — still the league WR standard in that category — Hill has done well on the contract front. This is Hill’s third NFL contract; he scored the second one — a three-year, $54MM pact — shortly after the NFL did not suspend him following a child-abuse scandal that had him away from the Chiefs for several weeks. This era’s premier long-range playmaker has already earned $93MM over the course of his career.

The Dolphins, who are negotiating what stands to be a franchise-record extension with Tagovailoa, have made a longer-term commitment to Waddle. The team could move money around in Hill’s contract and/or add incentives to the deal, but with its top receiver signed for three more seasons, Miami can also stand down here. Hill’s current deal gives the team flexibility beyond 2024, though he certainly does not profile as a cut candidate following this season. It will be interesting to see how he proceeds if/once Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb, and possibly Brandon Aiyuk, secure market-shifting extensions as this offseason progresses.

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