Can the Chiefs actually pull off a Tyreek Hill reunion?

No matter how bad things get in Chiefs Kingdom, it can’t be as bad as things have been going for the Miami Dolphins, who are off to a rough start after missing the playoffs last year and have altogether horrific vibes.

One of the largest contributors to those terrible vibes has been former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who, until last week’s game against the Patriots, had gone a full calendar year without a reception of 30 yards or more, a trademark of his game.

The Dolphins are at a crossroads as an organization. They paid a quarterback who seems to be regressing, an offense centered around speed isn’t explosive, the offensive line is putrid, and their defense has a few good players and nothing else. It’s trending toward a hard reset in Miami, and the first piece to go could be the squeaky wheel in Tyreek Hill.

Right now, the Dolphins are likely as focused on the future as they are on the present, and keeping Tyreek Hill’s bloated $55 million cap hit for 2026 isn’t feasible. Either they are cutting him or trading him before the start of the 2026 league year. They could also extend him, but given how the last calendar year has gone for Tyreek and the Dolphins, that seems highly unlikely.

Since 2020, there have been a total of 59 wide receivers traded. Tyreek is in a unique situation as a five-time All-Pro who is certainly aging but is also just one season removed from having over 1,800 scrimmage yards. The team acquiring him would either need the cap space to take on a prorated part of his $27 million cap hit or the Dolphins would have to eat some money. The most likely scenario is that the Dolphins convert all but the veteran minimum $1.21 million (prorated for the remaining games) into a signing bonus.

Major WR trade history

Since 2020, the most comparable trades to Tyreek Hill’s current situation are Amari Cooper (Cleveland), Julio Jones, Keenan Allen, and Davante Adams (Jets). All of these were former superstar wide receivers in their 30s with large contracts who were moved mostly for salary-cap reasons. Cooper was traded from the Cowboys to the Browns for a fifth- and sixth-round pick, Julio Jones went to the Titans for second- and sixth-round choices, Keenan Allen became a Bear for a fourth-round selection, and Davante Adams was reunited with Aaron Rodgers for a third-round pick.

Good news if you want Tyreek back in red and gold: the highest pick in those trades was a second-rounder. Bad news? Looking back on each of these trades, it’s hard to deem any of them much of a success for the team acquiring the receiver. As mentioned above, because the Chiefs are sitting at an estimated $3 million in cap space, they would likely have to sweeten the deal with draft picks to get the Dolphins to eat money on the trade. The Chiefs could view Tyreek Hill as a rental for the year and cut him or even extend his contract to soften his 2026 cap hit if they wanted.

To further complicate matters, Tyreek Hill was recently accused of domestic violence that the NFL is said to be investigating. While so far all of the proceedings have been in civil court, that doesn’t mean Hill couldn’t be suspended for a period of time.

Will the Chiefs really trade for Hill?

Ultimately, the idea of Tyreek Hill, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Travis Kelce, and Hollywood Brown breaking the huddle with Patrick Mahomes is a football fantasy—a dream you might not even be able to pull off in your fantasy league. This is the type of move that screams “win now” and carries a high risk factor.

Because of Hill’s age, his contract, his standing within the league office (discipline), and the never-ending tightrope the Chiefs walk with roster construction, there are plenty of reasons why the Chiefs would be smart not to pull off this trade: the cap restrictions, the need for cheap, controllable talent in the draft, and the ongoing headache that is Tyreek Hill’s personal life.

On the other hand, imagine when that push notification hits your phone: “Reunion: The Chiefs are trading for All-Pro Tyreek Hill.” Even better, imagine the reaction of the rest of the league when that notification hits their phones.

At the end of the day, there is only one Patrick Mahomes, and the time is now. It’s the ultimate swipe of the credit card and worry-about-the-balance-later move. However, it’s much easier to pay that bill in San Francisco in February—or even better, on the steps of Union Station.

Is it likely the Chiefs trade for Tyreek Hill? No. Is it something worth considering (and fantasizing about)? Yes.