The New York Jets and Miami Dolphins are in serious talks to trade Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreke Hill, league sources told ESPN.
According to sources, Hill is expected to receive a significant contract extension with the team that trades him. Hill is currently scheduled to become a free agent after this season.
Several teams have made requests for a possible trade for Hill, but the Jets and Dolphins have emerged as the final two in recent days, the sources said.
The 28-year-old Hill and Chiefs are considering what to do and a decision is likely to be made within the next 48 hours, sources said.
Dolphins assistant general manager Marvin Allen was the college’s director of scouting for five years, from 2013-17, when Hill was selected by Kansas City.
Both the Jets and the Dolphins need a number one wide receiver to help their young quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Tua Tagovailoa, respectively.
The Jets, one of four teams without a 1,000-yard receiver or tight end, are looking for a dynamic playmaker who will accelerate Wilson’s development. Aside from re-signing backup wide receiver Braxton Berrios, they haven’t added any extra features as free agents.
The Jets have been renegotiating free-agent contracts in part to give flexibility to restrictions this season should the opportunity arise. They have enough draft capital to trade with four of the top 38 picks, including four and ten. They have not used a wide receiver in the first round since 2001 (Santana Moss), drawing with the Seattle Seahawks due to the longest active drought in the league.
Corey Davis and Elijah Moore are two of the Jets’ top underdogs. They signed two tight ends in free agency, CJ Uzomah and Tyler Conklin. But sources said they see a missing piece in Hill that could provoke an attack.
Hill, who was selected to play in the Pro Bowl in all six seasons of his NFL career, had a career-high and a Chiefs franchise-record 111 receptions for 1,239 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
He has 479 receptions for 6,630 yards and 56 touchdowns in his career.
If Hill is traded by the Chiefs, the Chiefs wide receiver will include free agents Juju Smith-Shuster, Mekole Hardman, Josh Gordon, Justin Watson, Cornell Powell, Gehrig Dieter and Corey Coleman.
The Chiefs are expected to add wide receivers in the free will and in the draft.
With the exception of 32-year-old tight end Travis Kelsey, who signed a four-year extension in 2020, all the big contracts the Chiefs have given out since Brett Wyche was the team’s general manager have gone to younger players in their 20s and 20s.
Rich Jiminy and Adam Teicher of ESPN contributed to this report.