When Dolphins G.M. Chris Grier was asked in April about a potential trade of receiver Tyreek Hill, Grier didn’t shoot it down.
“If someone wants to come and give me two first round picks then we’d consider it,” Grier said. “But, as of right now, it’s not something we’re considering.”
That could change in a couple of days. Given the realities of Hill’s contract (re-done in 2024), it makes sense for the Dolphins to hold Hill until June 2 or later. That’s when the cap consequences can be spread over two years.
For now, Hill has $28.296 million in unallocated bonus money that will hit the cap. A pre-June 1 trade means all of it lands in 2025. A post-June 1 trade limits the 2025 dead money to $12.728 million, with the remaining $15.568 million landing on the cap in 2026.
The same dynamic has always meant cornerback Jalen Ramsey won’t be traded until after June 1. And it means that any potential trade of Hill wouldn’t happen until after June 1, too.
It all comes down to whether a team is waiting for the calendar to migrate past May before making the call. And, more broadly, to whether another team is interested in taking on Hill’s contract, which pays out $25.85 million fully guaranteed in 2025.
While no one will offer a pair of first-round picks for Hill, Grier’s comment from mid-April operates as an invitation to make an offer. Although Grier has disputed that the Dolphins are in a rebuilding year, the sudden interest in moving Ramsey suggests they are at least refocusing.
They need players who are fully bought in. Despite Hill’s ongoing effort to clean up the mess he made by telling the truth after the end of the 2024 regular season, he wasn’t bought in. And even if he has somehow changed his mind, all it will take is a few losses in which he gets fewer targets than he expected, and the frustrations will return.
It makes sense for the Dolphins to consider the opportunity to get a clean slate, if someone calls. The only question is whether there’s another team that would be interested in taking on Hill’s $25.85 million compensation package for 2025 — and in giving the Dolphins whatever it would take to get them to clear out a key player who may not truly believe he’s playing for a contender. And who may not truly believe quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is good enough to make the Dolphins into one.
When Hill was traded by the Chiefs in 2022, the two finalists were the Jets and the Dolphins. The Jets surely won’t be interested this time around. So who would consider it now?
The contenders that should at least ponder whether Hill can help get them over the top include the Ravens, Texans, Chargers, and 49ers. (The Bills should think about it, too. However, the Dolphins may not be interested in helping Buffalo get back to a Super Bowl.)
The Bears also would be an intriguing option, especially with former Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy on the coaching staff. But they’re currently loaded at receiver; it wouldn’t work unless they’d send D.J. Moore to Miami as part of the trade.
It’s a long shot, for the Bears or any other team. But all it takes is one team to convince itself that Hill can be the difference maker. The guy who can help a team that is close to the mountaintop finish the climb.
Maybe, in the end, Hill’s recent effort to fix his image isn’t about persuading the Dolphins to keep him. Maybe he’s hoping it will convince a better team to come get him.
Each of the NFL’s five main TV partners will have a nationally televised game in the preseason, and today the NFL announced the schedule for those games.
The 2025 NFL preseason kicks off on NBC with the Hall of Fame Game, with the Chargers facing the Lions in Canton, Ohio, at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 31.
Two nationally televised games will take place in Week Two of the preseason: The Bills will be in Chicago to face the Bears on Sunday, August 17 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. And the Bengals will be in Washington to face the Commanders on Monday, August 18 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
And two more nationally televised games will take place in Week Three of the preseason: The Patriots will play at the Giants on Thursday, August 21 at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video, and the Vikings will play at the Titans on Friday, August 22 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
The Chargers have started talks about a new contract with left tackle Rashawn Slater, but it doesn’t look like things are progressing as quickly as Slater would like them to move.
Daniel Popper of TheAthletic.com noted that Slater was not in attendance for the first OTA of the offseason on Tuesday. It was a voluntary workout, but Slater has not missed OTAs in the past and the change in approach is likely tied to the contract situation.
Slater is heading into the final year of his rookie deal after the Chargers exercised their option for a fifth season. He is due to make $19.04 million under the terms of that deal.
The Chargers start their three-day mandatory minicamp on June 10. Missing that would subject Slater to fines and it would make Slater’s contract a point of interest for the break leading into training camp.
Miami has reached out to another veteran cornerback.
Per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins called to inquire about cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.
Samuel is still recovering from neck surgery and has not received an offer from Miami. He also has not been in for a visit.
But according to Jackson, the Dolphins have made it known that they’re interested and want to remain in touch as Samuel continues his recovery. If a deal comes together between the two parties, it would likely happen in July.
Samuel also had a recent reported visit with the Saints.
A Chargers second-round pick in 2021, Samuel has recorded 37 passes defensed with six interceptions in his 50 career games. He was limited to four contests in 2024.
The Dolphins also have been in touch with free-agent corner Rasul Douglas as they continue to work on trading cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
The Chargers signed first-round running back Omarion Hampton, the team announced Monday.
Hampton receives a four-year, $17.77 million contract, including a $9.56 million signing bonus.
The Chargers now have signed or agreed to terms with eight of their nine picks. Only second-round wide receiver Tre Harris is unsigned.
The team made the North Carolina star the 22nd overall pick.
Hampton spent three seasons with the Tar Heels, and he led the ACC with 1,660 rushing yards in 2024. In 2023, he rushed for 1,504 yards.
He finished his career with 3,565 rushing yards and 36 rushing touchdowns.
Ashton Jeanty, who went sixth overall to the Raiders, was the only other running back drafted in the first round.
