While the Miami Dolphins have spent a lot of their offseason bringing in talent, on Saturday, they sent a longtime franchise stalwart away.
The Dolphins (per Ian Rapoport, NFL Network) are sending DeVante Parker to the New England Patriots.
Compensation update: The #Patriots are sending a 2023 third rounder to Miami for WR DeVante Parker and a 2023 fifth rounder. https://t.co/bt5qpHyT0d
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 2, 2022
Rapoport and Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald both cited messages from Parker’s agent, Jimmy Gould, indicating that Parker’s camp is happy with the deal.
From Jimmy Gould, DeVante Parker’s agent: “I am truly grateful to the Dolphins and to Coach Belichick and Bob Kraft in their efforts to make this happen.” https://t.co/u7D0h6fvmN
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 2, 2022
DeVante Parker’s agent, Jimmy Gould, to the Herald: “It’s a great fit. I think the world of Coach Belichick who is an old friend of mine. DeVante is not only an incredibly talented athlete, but a deeply thoughtful and special person."
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) April 2, 2022
This trade is notable in that, while it’s not unprecedented for division rivals (even these specific division rivals) to trade with each other, it is rare.
Parker was drafted by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. His best season came in 2019 when he caught 72 passes for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns — all career highs. In 2021, he caught 40 passes for 515 yards with two touchdowns in only 10 games.
People in the NFL world generally thought highly of the move for New England.
I don’t think Devante Parker would have a defined role considering what the rest of Miami‘s receiver room looks like, and what this offense is going to try to do
More of a case of a bad fit rather than a bad player
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) April 2, 2022
Patriots adding Devante Parker is a great move. They needed a WR that can consistently win outside the numbers. 2 years left on his deal & the cap hits are under $10 million. The third round pick is just the cost of doing business with a division rival.
pic.twitter.com/wiPn3QEPiw— Andrew (@Patriots_Andrew) April 2, 2022
I rather have a cheaper, younger, healthier Devante Parker and a 2022 draft pick than Robert Woods. Parker has 100,000 reasons to start developing a rapport with Mac Jones this spring.
— Patscap (@patscap) April 2, 2022
So the Dolphins got a 3rd round pick for Devante Parker yet the Cowboys only got a 5th for Amari Cooper. Hmmm
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) April 2, 2022
The trade for DeVante Parker is a testament to Bill Belichick’s patience. The Patriots get a really good player on a really good contract by moving back from the third round to the fifth round. It took a while but they upgrade at WR.
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) April 2, 2022
Dolphins WR room was overcrowded after additions of Tyreek Hill & Cedrick Wilson. So they get rid of DeVante Parker who was their longest-tenured player.
Bold move to trade him to division rival. Parker had a lot of issues with injuries but when healthy was often MIA’s No.1 WR. https://t.co/FclXdecSmq
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) April 2, 2022
The Patriots saw a lot of Parker as an opponent in the AFC East. That included one of the greatest games in his career.
In the final game of the 2019 season, the Patriots needed a win over the Dolphins to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. They were upset 27-24 in what ended up being Tom Brady’s final regular season game with New England. Parker was a big part of that, catching eight passes for 137 yards while largely matched up against that season’s Defensive Player of the Year — Stephon Gilmore.
That was one of three 100-yard receiving games that Parker had against the Patriots. New England will no doubt be hoping he brings that production with him.
