Why Wes Welker thinks Tyreek Hill is better than Randy Moss

Welker, who clearly knows Moss' skillset and resume as a six-time Pro Bowl selection, a talent who received first-team All-Pro honors four times and was named to the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2000s, isn't diminishing anything Moss accomplished. 

Welker, a legendary slot receiver during his time, is seemingly saying Moss couldn't run a full route tree like Hill, who is on pace to become the NFL's first 2,000-yard receiver if he can stay on his current pace, and doesn't miss one of the remaining six games.

"That's what separates him in that regard," Welker said, continuing his comparison of Hill and Moss. "It's his mindset, and the way he approaches every single day, and every single game. It's very impressive that he's got that mentality, along with all those [skills]."

Moss played 16 seasons, finished his career with 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns. But he was merely hanging on for his final two seasons, a stretch where he played 32 games for the Patriots, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans in 2010, then took two seasons off before catching 28 passes for 434 yards and scoring three touchdowns for the San Francisco 49ers.

From an all-time perspective, Moss is fourth all-time in receiving yards (15,292), second in touchdowns only to Jerry Rice (156), and 15th in receptions (982). 

With six games left in his eighth season. Hill has pulled in 686 catches, 9,664 receiving yards, and scored 85 touchdowns (receiving, rushing and returning) during his career.

Hill's approaching 10,000 career receiving yards

Hill needs 336 yards to become the 55th player to reach 10,000 receiving yards. 

He's 62th on the career list heading into Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders, and is behind Philadelphia's Julio Jones (13,645), Tennessee's De'Andre Hopkins (11,997), Tampa's Mike Evans (11,275), Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce (11,076), Las Vegas Raiders' DeVante Adams (10,451), Los Angeles Chargers' Keenan Allen (10,404), and Buffalo's Stefon Diggs (9,786) when it comes to active players.

Coincidentally, Welker's career totals ended just shy of 10,000, contributing 9,927 receiving yards during his 12-year playing career.

Based on his year-to-year average of roughly 85 catches, 1,208 yards, and nine touchdowns, Hill likely won't catch Moss in career numbers. Especially if the 29-year-old retires when his contract expires in 2026, like he's previously stated his plans were.

However, don't be surprised if the Dolphins approach Hill about restructuring, and potentially extending his contract this offseason to help the franchise create necessary cap space since that's one of the many avenues the Dolphins could take to avoid the upcoming salary cap crisis, which is caused by the team being $23.1 million over the 2024 projected salary cap and needing to re-sign a laundry list of starters.

What receiver does Hill compare himself to?

Upon hearing Welker's praise and comparison, Hill was admittedly humbled, flattered, and then joked that Welker was only praising him because "he's trying to get me to practice."

Hill's referring to the ankle injury that convinced Miami's coaches to keep him out of Wednesday's practice session. He did return on Thursday and issued his usual "Cheetahs don't get hurt." mantra.

"I’m just soaking a little injury right now," said Hill, But I’ll be alright though. I’m going to shake back quick. That’s what I do.”

Ironically, Hill said he grew up idolizing Moss, but based on his experiences, film study and understanding of the game former Pittsburgh Steelers standout Antonio Brown is the only receiver he'd compare himself too.

"Take all that other stuff out of it, and Antonio was a bad man," Hill said, referring to Brown's off the field antics, and personality, which eventually got him blackballed from the NFL. "He's the best receiver I've ever seen."