Miami Dolphins
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The Patriots agreed to a three-year contract with former Dolphins tight end Julian Hill
The Miami Dolphins roster is shaping up to be vastly different in 2026 than it was in 2025. While some may see that as a positive, this is more a result of the team’s salary cap situation than wanting to turn the roster over.
For example, the Dolphins tried to agree to a new contract with Jason Sanders and Alec Ingold to lower their salary cap number, but once the players rejected a salary reduction,they were released.Now, the Dolphins have had to let another player walk in free agency and it marked one more instance of Miami wanting to retain the player at a lower number.
Miami Herald writer Barry Jackson reported that the Dolphins offered a new contract to tight end Julian Hill, who was a restricted free agent; however, his contract was lower than the $3.5 million tender that would have guaranteed he stayed in Miami. Hill declined Miami’s offer and signed with a division rival.
Patriots Sign Former Miami Dolphins Tight End
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that the New England Patriots agreed to a three-year deal with former Dolphins tight end Julian Hill.
Hill signed with the Dolphins after going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. After a strong training camp, he made the Dolphins’ 53-man roster in his rookie season. During that season, Hill appeared in 15 games for Miami, playing 35% of the team’s offensive snaps.
That number increased during the 2024 season as he played over 500 of Miami’s offensive snaps and started 11 games for the team. Despite the high number of snaps, Hill was rarely a pass-catching threat as he totaled only 18 catches over those first two seasons. Due to injuries, Hill was only able to participate in 14 games for the Dolphins in 2025, but he played over 50% of Miami’s offensive snaps for the first time in his career.
Hill’s 2025 season was the best of his career as he finished with acareer-best 66.8 pass-blocking grade by Pro Football Focus. Hill will now depart the Dolphins after his three-year, $2.7 million contract came to an end. He will join an AFC East rival with a much more promising outlook on the 2026 season as they look to build on their Super Bowl appearance during the 2025 season. New England went 2-0 in games against the Dolphins last season, marking their first season sweep of the Dolphins since 2016.
Hill’s Fit With Patriots
Regarding Hill’s signing,Sports Illustrated’s Mike D’Abate wrote, “Although New England’s tight ends positional group is in good hands with team captain Hunter Henry at the helm, the free agency loss of TE2 Austin Hooper to the Atlanta Falcons — coupled with the fact that Henry is on the unfortunate side of 30 years of age — could force the Patriots’ hand to seek a long-term option at tight end.
With the Patriots expected to increase their usage of 12-Personnel [aligning two tight ends] in 2026, they would help to solidify a position which will continue to play a major role in Maye’s development. Hill will now join a tight end positional group which consists of Henry, C.J. Dippre, Marshall Lang and Jack Westover — who plays a hybrid tight end/fullback role.”