The Kansas City Chiefs have been trying to find their magic on offense after a few lackluster years. While the real answer won’t be known until the Chiefs hit the field next fall, it appears their immediate intention is to reunite with some of the faces that turned them into an offensive juggernaut during their dynastic run in the early 2020s.
While Eric Bieniemy has already returned as offensive coordinator, someone Chiefs fans have wondered about is Tyreek Hill. Bringing Hill back to Kansas City is now easier than ever, as the Miami Dolphins will release the star receiver, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. But any potential return may come at the expense of one of the pass catchers currently on the roster.
That could make Hill’s potential return bad news for Tyquan Thornton, who appears to be on the verge of parting ways with the Chiefs as he enters free agency.
Tyquan Thornton’s Giants Buzz Could Help Tyreek Hill Rejoin Chiefs
The writing on the wall for Thornton may be there, considering that he and Hill are the same type of receiver. Both are elite deep threats at their best, and Thornton played his role well, averaging 23.1 yards per reception to go along with his three touchdowns for the Chiefs last season. But Thornton’s consistency was lacking as he finished the year with just 19 catches for 438 yards, and he could be looking for a bigger opportunity in free agency.
Part of that has already begun as Thornton has been connected to the New York Giants. Speaking to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News earlier this month, Thornton said that he doesn’t “see nobody stopping me” in Matt Nagy’s scheme. With Nagy heading to New York as John Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator and a wide-open depth chart behind Malik Nabers, Thornton could be on his first flight to the Meadowlands when free agency opens.
Of course, the other question is whether Hill would be a suitable replacement. Hill became a superstar during his first stint with the Chiefs, catching 470 passes for 6,630 yards and 56 touchdowns over six seasons. He continued his dominance in his first two years in Miami with 238 catches for 3,509 yards and 20 touchdowns, but his play fell off in 2024, before he suffered a dislocated knee and torn ACL last October.
Set to turn 32 on March 1, Hill faces a long road back to the field. But he could wind up being the Chiefs’ replacement for Thornton. Expecting Hill to be the All-Pro version that dominated the league in his first stint in Kansas City wouldn’t be wise, but he could be an upgrade on Thornton, who appeared to be a role player in Andy Reid’s offense. By reuniting with Bieniemy, there’s a chance Hill could have more upside and help Kansas City return to its explosive ways on offense.