This offseason has brought with it a wave of new wide receiver contracts, resetting the top of the market for the position.
Hoping to ride that wave is Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill, who said Monday that with the time coming for him to start thinking about his own next deal, he’s intrigued to see what this new pay standard means for him.
“I’m very excited to like just be a part of the old wave, which was $30 million, and Justin Jefferson came and surpassed that, man,” Hill said, via Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. “So, very proud of those guys, happy for obviously my teammate getting his new deal. For guys like me, that’s great. I’m 30 years old, also looking for a new deal. So, very, very excited to see where I fit into that category. It’s amazing.”
When Hill signed his current four-year, $120 million extension with the Dolphins after arriving via trade from the Chiefs, his $30 million a year average was at the top of the rankings for the position.
But just in the last three months, three players have surpassed that average, per Over the Cap, including the Vikings' Jefferson, who set the new high mark with his $35 million per year average. Hill’s Miami teammate Waddle also signed a three-year, $84.75 million extension that’s just below his average.
Hill, however, is set to earn $19.665 million in 2024, the last year with guaranteed money, indicating that the time might be now to work on an extension to put his compensation more in line with current standards for a player of his caliber.
Hill has been among the best at his position since joining the Dolphins, earning first-team All-Pro honors both years while also continuing his streak of making the Pro Bowl each of his eight seasons. This most recent season, Hill led the league by averaging 112.4 yards per game, with a total of 1,799 yards, just short of his goal of becoming the first WR to break 2,000 yards in a season.
However, how paying Hill fits into the Dolphins' future plans could prove complicated considering where else the team is spending money.
In addition to Waddle’s extension, Miami has been engaging in talks with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this summer, and that market has also continued to go up for the QB position with recent deals, including for Jared Goff and Trevor Lawrence.
But for now, Hill is not focusing on the money, and said his immediate priority still remains leading his team to postseason glory, which has eluded the Dolphins despite their regular-season success.
“Oh yeah, for sure, so very excited for it, man, but the real goal is to win the Super Bowl,” Hill said. “It’s cool to get paid and all that, but you know being able to win a Super Bowl and bring something special to the city of Miami, that’s something that can live with us forever. I believe that’s very monumental for all of us. Create greatness, man.”