Grier says Dolphins will keep Tyreek Hill, addresses left tackle, safety and other issues
The Dolphins already have lost two former All-Pro players this month (Terron Armstead, Calais Campbell) and are trying to trade a third (Jalen Ramsey).
But they say they have no intention of trading their only other former All-Pro: wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
“That is not anything that we’re pursuing,” Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said Tuesday at his annual pre-draft news conference. “Who knows? If someone wants to come and give me two first-round picks, then we consider it. But as of right now, that’s not anything we’re pursuing.”
Grier said no team has called inquiring about a trade for the eight-time Pro Bowl receiver.
Hill, 31, expressed interest in playing elsewhere in the immediate wake of the season finale against the Jets, when he removed himself from the game for reasons unrelated to health. He subsequently walked back those comments.
“He has been working incredibly hard, is here every day, been doing everything,” Grier said. “He wants to be here. He’s been working and doing all the things to show his teammates this is where he wants to be. He’s been great. Things happen with players.”
Grier declined to discuss last week’s incident when an officer was called to Hill’s Sunny Isles condo because of a domestic dispute; no charges were filed and no crime was committed, an officer said.
Grier said it’s “wildly inaccurate” to suggest the team’s culture is a problem.
“We feel good where it is,” Grier said. “It’s a steady way of doing it the way we want it done.”
Personnel issues
▪ In the wake of Armstead’s retirement, Grier said second-year player Patrick Paul will be the team’s starting left tackle.
“He’ll get first crack at doing it,” Grier said.
Pro Football Focus rated Paul the NFL’s fourth-worst tackle and worst run-blocking tackle in limited playing time, but the Dolphins have high hopes for the 2024 second-round pick.
Grier said the team likes new backup left tackle Larry Borom, who allowed seven sacks for the Bears in modest playing time last season.
▪ Asked if Liam Eichenberg was re-signed to remain the team’s starting right guard or to instead shift to a backup guard/backup center role, Grier said: “Liam will provide swing versatility and compete for a job. He wasn’t promised anything. He knows there will be competition for it.”
▪ Regarding the departure of Campbell to Arizona, Grier said: “We made him an offer and, ultimately, he decided to go play for the team that drafted him. Happy for him and, at the end of the day, he did a great job for us. We wish him well, but we’re excited for what we could possibly add here on our D line here in the future.”
▪ The Dolphins could have created $19 million in instant cap space by restructuring Tua Tagovailoa’s contract, which would have added $4.8 million to his cap hits in 2026 through 2029.
Why didn’t Grier do that and use the cap savings to sign high-end offensive linemen and defensive linemen (beyond guard James Daniels)?
“We felt we didn’t need to,” Grier said. “The strength of the draft aligns with where people would say our needs are. There was no need to restructure Tua and touch the contract.”
If Ramsey is traded before June 1, his cap hit on Miami’s 2025 books will jump from $16.6 million to $25.2 million. If he’s traded after June 1 for a player or a 2026 draft pick, his Dolphins 2025 Dolphins dead money cap hit would drop to $6.7 million.
If the Dolphins trade him before June 1, Miami would have only $7 million in space, barely enough to sign a draft class and practice squad.
▪ The Dolphins have spent far less money in free agency than they have at times in past years, but Grier said owner Stephen Ross did not order that decision.
“In a salary cap era, you can’t keep high-priced players,” Grier said. “We were looking to sign good players at prices we felt comfortable.... It made sense to sign some younger players at those positions and we will fill in gaps in free agency after the draft.”
▪ Grier said the Dolphins signed Zach Wilson to be Tagovailoa’s backup because “we felt Zach had a lot of potential and a lot of talent. His skill set really fits with what our offense does.”
Grier made clear that “I would not be looking to draft a quarterback in the first round. We have our starting quarterback.”
▪ While expressing a willingness to add talent at safety, Grier said he believes the team’s two starters (and replacements for Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer) are already under contract.
None of the top safeties under contract have been full-time starters: Ifeatu Melifonwu (14 starts in 37 games over four years with Detroit), Ashtyn Davis (22 starts and 69 games in five years with the Jets), Elijah Campbell (three starts and 278 defensive snaps in four years with Miami) and Patrick McMorris, who played just eight defensive snaps in six games for Miami last season after beginning the season injured.
▪ With Ramsey being shopped and Kendall Fuller released, Kader Kohou is the only proven cornerback under contract.
Grier said cornerback “Cam Smith needs to come through. He needs to stay healthy and be on the field. Can’t hold his hand and wait for it anymore. Cam Smith, Storm Duck have to step up.”
Grier was non-committal about whether Kohou will start on the boundary or instead primarily play nickel corner, calling him “a Swiss Army knife.”
▪ Grier, who has allowed some of his coaches to influence personnel decisions, said “sometimes maybe I defer too much. That’s one thing I’ve learned. As I’ve gotten more along in my years, the push back is great. That’s what is great with Mike McDaniel. We don’t always agree, but we come to an alignment.”
This story was originally published April 15, 2025 at 4:20 PM.
