It may have taken more time than some were hoping for, but the Patriots upgraded their skill positions by trading for Dolphins receiver DeVante Parker.
The trade, first reported by NFL Network, is for a late-round pick. Parker, 29, is under contract for two more seasons, and will cost the Patriots about $6.2 million in 2022 and '23. OverTheCap.com had his valuation at $3.2 million for his play in 2021.
UPDATE: Adam Schefter reports the Patriots are giving up a 2023 third-round pick. Patriots are getting back a 2022 fifth-round pick.
Trade terms, per source:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 2, 2022
Patriots get WR DeVante Parker and a 2022 5th-round pick.
Dolphins get a 2023 third-round pick.
Parker, the 14th overall pick out of Louisville in 2015, is 6-3, 216 pounds and ran a 4.45. His best season came in 2019 when he posted 72 catches for 1,202 yards and 9 TDs. Not coincidentally, that was his last year with a real passing QB — Ryan Fitzpatrick.
BSJ ANALYSIS
Love the move no matter what. You get a one or two year tryout with Parker to see if he can be a viable X for this team, but there's really no downside.
That being said, you have to wonder why the Dolphins would feel comfortable trading Parker in the division, especially for low compensation. That's not usually a good sign, but I'm guessing the Patriots feel that Parker didn't come close to maximizing his potential with the coaching/QB situation in Miami, and the risk is minimal.
Parker slides right into the X. It's possible the Patriots shop Nelson Agholor a bit, but I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that he's gone. Agholor could get some more reps inside at the expense of Jakobi Meyers. Parker, Agholor and Kendrick Bourne is a much faster unit, and that could be part of the aim in this move.
How the WR depth chart shakes out now:
X Boundary
DeVante Parker
Nelson Agholor
N'Keal Harry
Z Boundary
Kendrick Bourne
Kristian Wilkerson
Ty Montgomery
Tre Nixon
Slot
Jakobi Meyers
Malcolm Perry
