Stephen A. Smith didn’t mince words when discussing Tyreek Hill’s move to the Miami Dolphins on First Take this week, calling it “one of the greatest mistakes an NFL player has ever made.” Ouch. While Smith’s hot takes often lean towards the theatrical, there’s no denying that Hill and the Dolphins are off to a rough start this season. Sitting at 1-3, the Dolphins are a far cry from the offensive juggernaut many expected them to be, and Hill’s production has been a big part of the conversation.
After a promising Week 1 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars where Hill racked up over 100 receiving yards, he’s been held under the century mark in every game since. To make matters worse, his four catches for 23 yards in last week’s loss to the Tennessee Titans was downright pedestrian. Let’s be real, those are the kind of numbers you expect from a possession receiver, not a game-breaker like Hill.
“You’re Tyreek Hill. You walked away from Patrick Mahomes. You walked away from Andy Reid. And now the Miami Dolphins look like hot garbage because they don’t have their quarterback, Tua, who you cannot rely upon because his durability due to the concussions is simply not something that you can rely on. It’s that simple. I think this could end up going down as one of the greatest mistakes an NFL football player has ever made in terms of their on-field decisions, departing from Kansas City to go to Miami.”
- Stephen A. Smith
Smith does raise a valid point about the quarterback situation. While Tua Tagovailoa has shown flashes of brilliance, his injury history, particularly with concussions, is a legitimate concern. Can the Dolphins truly compete for a Super Bowl, something the Chiefs have done twice since Hill’s departure, if they can’t rely on their starting quarterback?
To be fair, it’s not all doom and gloom in Miami. The Dolphins have reached the playoffs in both seasons since acquiring Hill, demonstrating his impact. Let’s not forget, Hill put up nearly 1,800 receiving yards last season with a healthy Tua under center. That’s not a fluke, folks.
The NFL landscape is littered with teams like the Carolina Panthers who are struggling to find their identity, and others like the New England Patriots who consistently find ways to win. The Dolphins, with Hill’s explosiveness, have the potential to be in that latter category. But for that to happen, they need their quarterback healthy. Stephen A. might be right that Hill’s on-the-field talents are going to be wasted this year if Tua can’t come back anytime soon.