MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins made sweeping roster changes Monday, headlined by the release of star wide receiver Tyreek Hill in a move designed to create significant salary cap flexibility.
Linebacker Bradley Chubb was also notified that he will be released, according to multiple sources. It remains unclear whether his release will be processed immediately or after the new league year begins March 11 as a post–June 1 designation.
The Dolphins additionally parted ways with offensive lineman James Daniels and wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Hill’s departure follows a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 of the 2025 season, when he dislocated his knee and tore his ACL. The 10-year veteran, who turns 32 in March, now enters free agency for the first time in his career.
In a message posted to Instagram, Hill expressed gratitude to the organization and its fans while making it clear he intends to continue playing.
“Miami, you have became my home. But the journey doesn’t stop here,” Hill wrote. “Every chapter in life has taught me something. This one taught me leadership, resilience, and mostly gratitude. … The Cheetah don’t slow down. Ever. … The Cheetah will be back… Born Again.”
The moves signal a new direction under first-year general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and are projected to save Miami approximately $23 million against the 2026 salary cap. If Chubb’s release is processed immediately, that savings could rise to roughly $30 million.
The Dolphins originally acquired Hill from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022, sending a package that included first-, second-, fourth-, and sixth-round draft picks. He quickly became one of the league’s most productive receivers, posting back-to-back 1,700-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023 after signing a four-year, $120 million extension. His production dipped in 2024, when he totaled 81 receptions for 959 yards and six touchdowns.
Hill’s tenure in Miami also included off-field controversies, including multiple lawsuits and a 2024 incident in which he was removed from his vehicle by Miami-Dade police officers outside Hard Rock Stadium prior to the season opener.
Chubb’s exit marks another significant shift. Miami traded a first-round pick to Denver in 2022 to acquire him and later signed him to a five-year, $110 million extension. He delivered 11 sacks in 2023 but suffered a devastating knee injury late that season, tearing his ACL, meniscus, and patellar tendon.
After missing all of 2024, Chubb returned in 2025 to record a team-high 8.5 sacks while playing in all 17 games. Despite facing double teams at a career-high rate, he maintained one of the better pressure rates of his career. Still, his $31 million cap hit for 2026, combined with his injury history and age (30 in June), factored into Miami’s decision.
Daniels, signed to a three-year, $24 million contract last offseason, suffered a pectoral injury just three snaps into the 2025 opener and did not return that season. Westbrook-Ikhine, who joined on a two-year deal after a nine-touchdown campaign with Tennessee, managed just 11 catches for 89 yards in his lone season with the Dolphins.
While the Dolphins have clearly begun reshaping their roster, uncertainty remains at quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa carries a $56 million cap hit in 2026, including $54 million guaranteed. The former first-round pick was benched late last season after throwing a career-high 15 interceptions. He signed a four-year, $212.1 million extension in 2024, the largest contract in franchise history.
Sullivan has publicly stated the team intends to bring competition into the quarterback room but emphasized that broader roster construction will take priority as Miami navigates its next phase.
