Over the weekend, the Patriots traded a third-round draft pick in the 2023 draft to the Miami Dolphins for a 2022 fifth-round pick and wide receiver DeVante Parker. If Parker stays healthy, this will end up being a great trade for the Patriots. In Parker, they are getting a big-bodied receiver that can win against man coverage and make contested catches. The sting of giving up a third-round pick will be minimized by the likelihood that New England will receive a third-round compensatory draft selection in 2023 due to J.C. Jackson signing a massive deal with the Chargers last month.
Parker, 29, was selected by the Dolphins with the 14th overall pick in the 2015 draft. He’s had at least 56 catches in four of his seven seasons and that number would be higher if not for several injuries that have curtailed his playing time. Parker has played at least ten games every season of his career, but has played a full season only once, in 2019. That year, Parker looked like a star. He hauled in 72 catches for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns. His 16.7 yards per reception in 2019 was the second highest of his career. Patriots’ fans will remember Parker shredding the New England defense in the final game of 2019, ultimately costing the Patriots the number two seed and a first round bye.
The Patriots have struggled in recent years to find an outside receiver that can stretch the field vertically and force defenses to defend sideline to sideline. When they have players that can do that, it helps their tight end passing attack and screen passing game immensely. That’s where Parker comes in.
He does not need to be a superstar like Randy Moss was in 2007, but if he can give the Patriots what Brandon LaFell did in 2014 or Chris Hogan did from 2016-18, it will be a major boost to the Patriots offense. Neither of those players were stars, but they consistently made plays on the outside and could stretch the field vertically. LaFell caught 74 passes in 2014 and Hogan led the NFL in yards per reception in 2016. New England has not had anyone like that since Hogan left after Super Bowl LIII.
What Parker can bring beyond those two players is his contested catch ability. At 6’3” and 219 pounds, Parker is big enough and strong enough to outmuscle defensive backs at the line of scrimmage and downfield when the ball is in the air.
The plays below are different examples of what Parker is capable of. In the first play, he shows off his vertical speed and catching ability. In the second one, he shows that he can concern a corner enough to get him to back off along the sideline and make a catch that threatens the defense as much horizontally as it does vertically.
It is no secret that wide receiver is a major need for the Patriots and the trade of DeVante Parker does a lot to address that. New England is not done adding to their receiving corps, but Parker represents a potentially great addition that brings an element to the New England offense that has been missing the last three seasons.