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    • Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs talk about trading for Tyreek Hill?
    Tennessee

    Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs talk about trading for Tyreek Hill?

    Eira Gwyneth Posted on

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    If the Kansas City Chiefs call Tyreek Hill, should the Miami Dolphins pick up the phone?

    Speculation has increased in the last 48 hours due to two factors:

    • The Chiefs may have lost their leading receiver and best playmaker, Rashee Rice, for the year. Rice was hit by Patrick Mahomes on Sunday as he attempted to make a tackle after throwing an interception in the win over the Chargers. The injury appears to be serious, possibly even a season-ending cruciate ligament tear.
    • The Dolphins are a dumpster fire right now, and the man who held that title as the best playmaker in KC for five years is Tyreek Hill. He’s also the man who could be a huge financial and emotional drain on his current team if the season doesn’t work out. Hill’s contract was restructured two months ago and is now $90 million over three years, with $65 million in guarantees. Oh, and he’s 30 years old.

    However, so much needs to be clarified when analyzing this possibility.

    Hill was visibly upset during Monday’s embarrassing 31-12 loss to Tennessee, yelling and gesticulating on the bench. And as he began to run behind coach Mike McDaniel, receivers coach Wes Welker interrupted him by moving his shoulder to Hill’s chest without even looking at the receiver.

    More: Why did the Miami Dolphins offense commit five illegal shift penalties against the Titans?

    Of course, much of that has to do with Miami’s 1-3 record, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is on IR after another concussion, and Tyreek is averaging 54.3 yards per game on 17 catches. But regardless of whether Tagovailoa attempts another comeback, the Dolphins have a lot to think about if they’re offered a strong package for a 30-year-old receiver of questionable character whose best days are behind him and who will cost them at least $65 million becomes.

    Tyreek Hill has his money and his ring. What could pique his interest if this season goes completely wrong?

    Hill told the media on Wednesday that he did not want to be traded. Then again, maybe it’s not his decision.

    Tyreek Hill could become a disruption if the season goes south

    Hill is an elite athlete and playmaker. That is not up for debate. Not all superstars are good leaders, but McDaniel has vouched for Hill’s leadership skills and work ethic. Off the field, Hill is another case where he has proven that he is neither a leader nor a role model with a variety of incidents from his college days.

    Hill, however, showed no leadership qualities after Monday’s loss as he ducked the media, either storming out of the locker room before the media was allowed in or hiding in a back room while many of his more responsible teammates answered expected tough questions.

    However, trading Tyreek would signal that Miami has given up on the season. But even if Tua is healthy, this isn’t a Super Bowl contender. In fact, the gap that Miami still had has now closed. Not just because of the quarterback situation, but also because of GM Chris Grier’s mismanagement, head-scratching decisions during free agency and a poorly assembled roster.

    And then there’s Miami’s willingness to overpay veteran players, which explains why it has the NFL’s oldest roster and why Grier sent this organization to hell. By dealing Hill, Miami would take a cap hit of $41.8 million through 2025.

    Only the Saints and Browns are in worse shape when it comes to the 2025 cap.

    All of this leads to the conclusion that Grier’s job is on the line – or should be if it isn’t – and he’s probably unwilling to send a signal about the team tackling the season so soon.

    Did you see the empty seats at the start of Monday’s Tennessee game, let alone the fourth quarter? A few more losses and things will get much worse.

    Would the Chiefs overpay the Dolphins in exchange for Tyreek?

    What might interest Grier is whether the Chiefs are willing to overpay for a 30-year-old who should have about two years left on the roster. And Kansas City is on the hunt for history this year, trying to win its third straight Super Bowl. Eight teams have won the Lombardi Trophies in consecutive years, all failing on the third attempt, including the Dolphins in the early 1970s.

    Would it be worth it for the Chiefs to sacrifice future assets to chase another ring or two now? Even if that price were, say, a first- and third-round pick in 2025 and one or two lower picks in 2026?

    Especially when that player is familiar with the playbook and has already won a Super Bowl with Mahomes?

    “It takes a little bit of time to sink in and understand the terminology,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said this week when asked about trading a player. “But it’s a lot easier now than it was during training camp when.” They have tons of plays to learn. Here they only have the game week (games) to learn.

    “But being on the same page with the quarterback, the timing and all that, that’s usually a bigger problem.”

    Miami gave up a first-round, second-round, two fourth-round and sixth-round picks to get Tyreek in 2022. And he was a great player, voted the best in the league by his peers.

    But here is the Dolphins’ playoff record with Tyreek Hill: 0-2.

    And here is the Chiefs’ playoff record without Hill: 7-0, including two Super Bowls.

    But even with a 4-0 start, the Chiefs could suddenly find themselves vulnerable after losing Rice. The 24-year-old was on the verge of a breakout season and is the most dynamic young receiver the organization has seen since Tyreek Hill.

    The Chiefs could have other options to replace Rice and could even find that speedy rookie Xavier Worthy is ready for the role. But one cannot be over-insured when chasing history.

    And KC has a long history of dealing a midseason receiver, acquiring Kadarius Toney from the Giants in 2022 and Mecole Hardman from the Jets last year. But these deals were not as costly as the Hill acquisition. The Chiefs gave up a third-round compensatory pick and a sixth-rounder for Toney and a sixth-rounder and seventh-rounder for Hardman.

    The trade deadline is November 5th, giving the Dolphins time before deciding whether 2024 is a lost season. This much is true: A loss this week to the weak Patriots should answer that question, regardless of whether Tua returns.

    Then everything could be at stake with an aging and underperforming squad.

    Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and golf reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].

    Game on Sunday

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    Eira Gwyneth
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