Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill predicted by NFL Execs to be traded to division rival

On By Littum

Will the Miami Dolphins take a step back in 2025? Could they end up trading wide receiver Tyreek Hill within the division?

Both will happen, at least based on one ESPN story from Jeremy Fowler asking the NFL managers, scouts and personnel managers for some fearless predictions for next season.

“This one is wild,” Fowler wrote, “but Hill’s unhappiness in Miami is out there after his Week 18 comments, and the Patriots hope to be on the brink of contention soon enough under new coach Mike Vrabel.

“In-division trades aren’t as rare as they were ten years ago. It’s very much about which team offers the best value.”

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Trading a wide receiver to the Patriots wouldn’t actually be a first for the Dolphins, because they did it three years ago when they moved DeVante Parker and a fifth-round pick for a third-round pick. And Dolphins fans probably also remember the 2007 trade that sent recently fired wide receivers coach Wes Welker to the Patriots for second- and seventh-round picks, a move that helped New England produce a 16–0 regular season that year.

Hill had an off year in 2024 as the Dolphins missed the playoffs for the first time in the three-year Mike McDaniel tenure. Hill caught 81 passes, compared to 119 in 2023. He also finished with 959 yards receiving and six touchdowns. That’s a far cry from the 1,799 yards he amassed the year before, to go with his 13 touchdowns. It was the first time Hill finished a season with less than 1,000 yards since 2019.

Much of Hill’s problems in Miami last season could be attributed to Tua Tagovailoa missing 6 1/2 games with a concussion and a hip injury. He didn’t have much success with Tyler Huntley, Skylar Thompson or Tim Boyle.

Hill said after the season finale at the New York Jets that he wanted out of Miami. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has since backtracked slightly on that statement, but Hill has not come out with any statements to the contrary.

Fowler said this could be the move for the Patriots to make if they can’t sign Tee Higgins in free agency. They obviously want to get quarterback Drake Maye some flashy toys. Fowler believes the Patriots can dangle a package, including a day-two pick to the Dolphins in exchange for Hill.

NFL personnel contacted by Fowler also expected the Dolphins to join the Minnesota Vikings in taking a step back in 2025.

“Another team on the radar here is Miami, which has shown promise and narrowly missed the playoffs, but is pretty much stuck in the middle,” Fowler wrote.