Why The New England Patriots Stood Atop Receiver DeVante Parker’s Trade List

Multiple teams called the Miami Dolphins about DeVante Parker, and general manager Chris Grier recently described an AFC East rival as the “most aggressive” among them.

But the New England Patriots also happened to be the 29-year-old wide receiver’s preferred destination.

“Yeah, that was true,” Parker told reporters during his introductory video conference on Thursday. “And I would say the Patriots — they have a great organization and the fans here are just outstanding. I know from my experience coming in here how the fans were. It’s just something that I wanted to be a part of.”

New England acquired Parker along with a 2022 fifth-round draft choice as the calendar turned to April. A 2023 third-round draft choice headed to Miami in the inter-divisional trade, which followed Jaylen Waddle’s record-setting rookie season as well as the March arrivals of veteran wideouts Tyreek Hill and Cedrick Wilson Jr.

Parker closed his Dolphins chapter ranked eighth in franchise history with 338 receptions and sixth with 4,727 receiving yards. Across 93 games and 64 starts, he scored 24 touchdowns.

One trip to the end zone came against his current team.

“My agent was telling me what the situation was and the options I had for the teams I could go to,” Parker said. “And the first one on the list was the Patriots. I was just excited that he was able to get everything done — him and everyone else in the building.”

Parker had faced New England a dozen times since entering the NFL at pick No. 14 overall in the 2015 draft. He eclipsed the century mark in receiving three times over that span and played a total of 588 offensive snaps.

“I watched film on them sometimes,” Parker said. “I watched a little film so I could see what they were doing. They block and work hard.”

Two years remain on Parker’s contract extension from 2019, when he set career highs with 72 catches for 1,202 yards and nine scores with former Patriots receivers coach Chad O’Shea as his offensive coordinator.

Hamstring and shoulder injuries have kept him sidelined for nine contests since then. Even so, Pro Football Focus has charted the Louisville product for 35 contested catches over the past two campaigns and an average target depth of 12.4 yards last campaign.

It’s a strength that matched a weakness.

“I’m just bringing that down-the-field guy,” Parker said of his skillset at 6-foot-3, 218 pounds. “… High-pointing the ball, getting vertical down the field and just doing whatever I can to help the team win.”

Parker carries a $5.65 million base salary for 2022 and a $5.7 million base salary for 2023. Both years include $100,000 workout bonuses and $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses.

And a reset.

“It means a lot to me,” Parker said of being a Patriot. “Like I said earlier, I chose to get traded here and it’s something that I’m looking forward to. The guys that I’ve already met, they’re great guys and they brought me in just like family. It’s something I love already. I’m just looking forward to working with these guys.”

The work got underway with a throwing session in Florida alongside Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, running back J.J. Taylor and fellow receivers Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne and Jakobi Meyers. It continues in Foxborough now with the initial phase of the voluntary offseason program.

“It’s great,” added Parker. “I’m still trying to find my way around the meeting rooms and stuff like that. So that’s the only thing that’s really kind of hard right now, trying to find where everything is, but I’ll get the hang of it.”

New England’s first practice of organized team activities is set for May 23.