The Patriots have agreed to a new three-year contract for WR DeVante Parker worth up to $33 million, according to sources.
The deal was first reported by NFL Network.
Parker, 30, caught 31 passes and had three touchdowns last year, his first in New England after seven in Miami. He missed four games last year. He played a full season once in his eight-year career. Parker joins Juju Smith-Schuster as established receivers under contract beyond this season.
The fact that it's a new contract is significant, and will likely lower his 2023 cap hit of $6.2 million. Not that it was significant and not that they needed more space to do something, like sign DeAndre Hopkins.
What does it mean?
BEDARD'S ANALYSIS
Let's start off with some questions and answers.
Was this done to free up cap space to sign Hopkins?
No. That was not needed.
Does mean this they are out on Hopkins?
Not necessarily, but I would say this lessens the chances at least a little bit. Parker and Hopkins are basically redundant. If Hopkins was signed, Parker was likely the player out and his $6 million could have been factored in. How many aging, injury-prone contested catch guys do you need on one team? Hopkins would give them three (with Smith-Schuster), and possibly the slowest receiver room in the league.
They're going to sign Hopkins now — who will get more money and be featured more — to create a salary hierarchy of Hopkins, Smith-Schuster and then Parker? That's your three-receiver trio? Does Hopkins think this is a good situation for him now? Doesn't sound right.
This smells like the Patriots put a deadline on Hopkins to make a decision — right before July 4 — and the Patriots gave the money to Parker, who did finish minicamp on a high note (right after Hopkins' visit was reported). The Patriots saw an opportunity to get a deal, and they pounced on it.
The only way I see the Patriots being in on Hopkins at the same level is if there's an injury concern with Smith-Schuster or Tyquan Thornton.
Do I like this deal?
Need to see the fine print, but not really. This also smells like the Davon Godchaux extension — they didn't have anyone in the pipeline, especially after passing on any real weapons in the draft (like nose tackle with Godchaux), so they stabilized the room by extending a guy who would play ball on the contract.
Parker has flashed at times, yes. But he's also proven himself to be very injury-prone, and that doesn't get better after you turn 30.
Is this really three years?
Highly doubtful. With $14 million in guarantees, that makes it a two-year deal with $7 million as the base the next two years with bonuses and incentives also involved. The Patriots can probably easily get out after two years.
OverTheCap had Parker's valuation as $4.7 million.
Could someone else be on the way out?
Step right up, Kendrick Bourne. He's now the only WR left entering a contract year. Not sure his minicamp comments went over well.
What is Bill Belichick doing?
No idea. I stopped trying to figure out the GM long ago. What he does often does not make sense anymore.
