Davante Adams’ trade to the Las Vegas Raiders and subsequent record contract for his position paved the way for another blockbuster deal.
The Kansas City Chiefs agreed to trade three-time All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for five draft picks, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade was not yet official.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report the news.
The Chiefs will receive selections in the first (No. 29 overall), second and fourth round this year as well as fourth- and sixth-round picks in 2023, Schefter reported.
Hill, who is entering the final year of his contract while drawing a base salary of $3.43 million (with a $15 million roster bonus), had been wanting a new contract from the Chiefs, but extension talks had been fruitless. Adams entering the AFC West and becoming the league’s top-paid receiver with a five-year, $141 million contract only exacerbated the situation between Hill and the Chiefs.
As part of the trade, Hill agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension that includes $72.2 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports.
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The New York Jets also engaged in trade discussions with the Chiefs on Hill.
The Dolphins have been heavily invested in aiding third-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this offseason. Miami hired new coach Mike McDaniel, who previously served as the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, and brought on three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead and left guard Connor Williams to fortify the team’s front. Skill-position support was added in running backs Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert and wide receivers Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Trent Sherfield
Hill will team with 2021 first-round pick Jaylen Waddle, who last season set the NFL’s record for receptions by a rookie with 104, to give Miami one of the league’s speediest pair of receivers. As one of the NFL’s pre-eminent deep threats, however, the six-time Pro Bowl selection might not be able to immediately replicate his big-play heroics given the Dolphins’ struggles to unlock a deep passing attack. Tagovailoa ranked 23rd in the NFL last season with 6.8 yards per attempt.
Kansas City now will be tasked with replacing a player who, alongside perennial Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce, had been one of the focal points of its offense. The Chiefs signed former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to a one-year deal, but the team could be in the market to add help alongside Mecole Hardman in the draft.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Mike Jones on Twitter @ByMikeJones.
