Hill's blazing speed meets Herbert's arm. Could the Chargers unlock an impossible offensive threat, or does his massive contract make it a risky gamble?
If you've been around here a bunch lately, you can probably sense a theme for my recent posts. Whether it's wondering if the Los Angeles Chargers should sign Deebo Samuel or wondering if they should trade for Saints OG Cesar Ruiz, I have obviously been looking at what additions could be made to this roster in the offseason to help them become a more dangerous team.
The case for trading for Tyreek Hill
When I was digging through wide receivers, eventually deciding to write about Deebo Samuel, it was impossible to not think about Tyreek Hill.
Whereas Mike McDaniel built his 49ers offensive philosophy around a combo RB/WR in Deebo Samuel in 2021, he built his Dolphins offensive philosophy around the incredible speed of WR Tyreek Hill in 2022 & 2023. And that philosophy was very successful until Tua Tagovailoa's starting racking up head injuries and until Tyreek Hill tore his ACL in week 5 of the 2025 NFL season.
Hill is maybe the fastest WR in the NFL, or at least the fastest one with elite footwork as well, which explains how he has made an incredible five All-Pro teams in 10 NFL seasons. Paired with Herbert's arm strength, Hill could put opposing defenses in an impossible position of trying to protect downfield without opening up the underneath stuff for Oronde Gadsden and Ladd McConkey.
Tyreek is expected to return to football by week 1 of the 2026 NFL season, and he has one year remaining on his contract with the Miami Dolphins. With a new head coach, former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, it is very possible that the Dolphins would be looking to part ways with Hill for a song.
The case against trading for Tyreek Hill
I felt like I had to move over to the "against" side once I brought up the price for trading for Tyreek because it's a good transition into the thing that will most work against the idea of the Chargers trading for him: His contract.
If I'm reading the contract correctly, and understanding the CBA rules correctly (both of these might be a stretch), Tyreek Hill will cost the Dolphins $51.1 million against the salary cap if he is on their roster in 2026 and is set to become a free agent after this season. If the Dolphins were to trade Hill before the NFL season began, I believe that cap hit drops all the way down to $28.2 million for them.
The other $35.2 million of the cap hit would travel with Tyreek and end up on the Chargers books. That would make him the 2nd highest paid player on the roster behind Justin Herbert. Even if Hill has been an elite deep threat in his career, there's enough of a chance (at his age and coming off a torn ACL) that he won't be that guy in 2026 and you can't risk having him blow up your salary cap if he isn't.
I'm a pretty strong "No" on the idea of reunited McDaniel and Hill unless the Dolphins cut Tyreek and the Chargers can sign him for a much more reasonable deal. Even then, he comes with so much baggage that you never know if it'll be worth it.