According to a recent ESPN survey of NFL team executives, scouts, and personnel experts, speculation is mounting that the New England Patriots could make a bold offseason move to acquire Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
The explosive receiver, reportedly dissatisfied with his situation in Miami, has drawn interest from the Patriots, who are seeking to bolster their offense.
“The Patriots are desperate. They need a guy, that alpha that can be friendly for Drake Maye,” an NFC personnel staffer told ESPN. “And there’s a higher chance of the draft picks [Miami would receive in a trade] being higher than with a contender.”
Though intra-division trades are often avoided, this scenario offers potential benefits for both teams.
For New England, acquiring Hill would address their glaring need for a dynamic playmaker to pair with quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Hill’s resume is elite, boasting four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from 2020 to 2023, including back-to-back 1,700-yard campaigns in 2022 and 2023.
The Patriots’ struggles at the receiver position are well-documented. The team has not produced a 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019.
In 2024, their top pass-catcher was tight end Hunter Henry, who posted 674 yards, while wide receiver DeMario Douglas was their best-performing wideout with just 621 yards.
Hill’s production dipped slightly in 2024, tallying 959 yards amid Miami’s quarterback challenges.
Tua Tagovailoa’s injuries forced Hill to adapt to backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, though Hill still managed to showcase his explosiveness at times.
For Miami, moving Hill could offer both immediate and long-term advantages.
Trading the disgruntled receiver would allow the Dolphins to recoup valuable draft capital while addressing their roster challenges.
Miami is facing a significant defensive overhaul, with 14 players set to become unrestricted free agents this offseason.
Compounding the issue, the Dolphins are projected to be $11.9 million over the salary cap, per OverTheCap, limiting their ability to retain depth players.
The Patriots, meanwhile, possess a strong slate of picks in the upcoming draft, including the No. 4 overall selection, a second-rounder (No. 38), two third-rounders (Nos. 69 and 77), and five additional selections in later rounds.
Hill’s frustrations became public following Miami’s season-ending loss to the New York Jets, which left the team at 8-9 and out of the playoffs.
After the game, Hill told reporters, “I’m out,” signaling his desire to leave. Since then, Hill’s agent and the team have played damage control and are claiming that he’s happy in Miami.
We’ll soon find out what’s real and what’s now. But there’s a legitimate chance that the Dolphins have grown tired of Hill’s behavior and could very well look to trade him if they can get enough in return.
By all accounts, it looks like the Patriots could indeed be the most aggressive pursuer.
What are your thoughts on the possibility of a Hill trade to New England???
