Tyreek Hill landing spots, ranked: Chiefs, Giants among 6 best team fits after Dolphins release originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Miami Dolphins are cleaning house.
Before Tua Tagovailoa's anticipated exit, the Dolphins reportedly released a bevy of veterans on Monday, including WR Tyreek Hill and EDGE Bradley Chubb.
Hill's release comes as little surprise, as he started to hint at an exit from Miami after the 2024 season and saw his 2025 campaign cut short when he suffered a gruesome knee injury just four games into the schedule. With a new regime in place after the firings of GM Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel, both sides will get a fresh start in 2026.
For Hill, his recovery from injury lingers as a wild-card in his upcoming free agency. Whether Hill will be able to play early in the 2026 season isn't clear, and he already seemed to be slowing down a bit in 2024. That makes it possible, if not likely, the former All-Pro will have to settle for a cheaper, prove-it deal on the open market.
Here's a look at the six best fits for Hill in free agency.
MORE:Why Dolphins are releasing Tyreek Hill
Tyreek Hill best fits in free agency
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are a natural connection the NFL world is going to make with Hill heading for the open market, and it's a legitimate possibility to consider.
While there could be reservations about a receiving corps that includes Hill and Rashee Rice, two players who have had their share of off-field issues, the Chiefs' coaching staff knows how to deal with Hill. Kansas City already signaled that it wants to get the band back together by re-hiring Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, and running it back with Hill would only be the latest step toward trying to get back to that offensive rhythm from the early days of Patrick Mahomes' career.
The Chiefs wouldn't ask Hill to produce nearly at the rate he did at his peak, but he could come at enough of a discount that adding him to their receiver room would make sense.
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2. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers recently hired veteran offensive assistant Darrell Bevell as their assistant head coach under Dave Canales, after Bevell served as the Dolphins' quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator throughout Hill's time in Miami. That connection could make Carolina a destination for Hill.
Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker look like building blocks for the Panthers' offense, but another reliable receiver was needed this past season as Xavier Legette struggled to make a leap. Hill could give Bryce Young the chance to continue improving, and Bevell's presence would give Hill some familiarity on a team that believes it can win the NFC South again.
MORE:Inside Tyreek Hill's timeline of trouble
3. New York Giants
Hill only overlapped with Matt Nagy for two seasons in Kansas City, as Nagy was the Chiefs' offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017, but the new Giants OC could give Hill a layer of familiarity if he landed in New York.
Wan'Dale Robinson is a free agent and could look to cash in with a contract the Giants aren't comfortable handing out after the best season of his career. As John Harbaugh looks to give Jaxson Dart a legitimate chance to succeed in year two, a receiver with Hill's pedigree could make sense next to Malik Nabers.
If there is a reservation, it's that the Giants would be dealing with two high-profile receivers coming back from major injuries. Hill's injury is more complicated than Nabers', but both are currently in the midst of a long recovery process and can't necessarily be counted on to be explosive from day one in 2026.
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4. Cleveland Browns
If Hill is looking to make some money rather than take a discount with a contender, the Browns can make him an offer worth considering.
Cleveland knows it needs a major offensive boost after a dismal season on that front, and new head coach Todd Monken can't make that happen without better personnel. The wide receiver room is thin outside of Jerry Jeudy, and no quarterback — whether Shedeur Sanders or someone else — is going to succeed with the group the Browns currently have.
Hill may need time to get back up to speed once he returns, but a Sanders-to-Hill connection would at least give fans a reason to watch in 2026.
MORE:Revisiting Tyreek Hill's gruesome leg injury
5. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers hired Mike McDaniel as their offensive coordinator, and McDaniel was Hill's head coach for all four seasons in Miami. That, along with the appeal of Southern California weather, makes L.A. worth watching for the former All-Pro.
Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Tre' Harris are the Chargers' top three wide receivers entering 2026, a fine but unspectacular trio. Hill's similarities to Johnston, who has emerged as a deep threat (albeit an inconsistent one) could give the Chargers some pause, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the two sides have mutual interest this spring.
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6. New York Jets
Hill reportedly chose between the Dolphins and Jets when the Chiefs shopped him in 2022. The Jets have had a complete facelift in the front office and on the sidelines since that point, but Hill has at least considered New York in the past and could make sense for this rebuilding squad in 2026.
The Jets desperately need a reliable pass-catcher of some kind next to Garrett Wilson, after they failed to produce a 500-yard receiver in 2026. Quarterback questions could keep Hill away, but outside of the QB position, an offense with Wilson, Hill, a solid offensive line and potentially Breece Hall could be fairly formidable.