The Patriots attempted to trade DeVante Parker in the build-up to free agency, but no suitors have emerged. As a result, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports New England will release the veteran wideout.
This appeared in the cards recently, with reports the Pats were attempting to trade the former first-round pick. With Parker attached to an extension signed last year and the veteran north of 30 and coming off an unimpressive season, trade efforts seemed like an uphill battle. As such, the Pats are moving Parker off the roster.
New England has JuJu Smith-Schuster signed to a three-year deal that includes a guaranteed $7MM for 2024, and the team just re-signed Kendrick Bourne. With a Calvin Ridley pursuit on the team’s radar, it did not appear Parker had a place on the ’24 Pats roster.
Parker signed a Pats extension last year, but only $9.1MM of the summer accord came guaranteed. This left Parker vulnerable; it cost the Patriots just more than $3MM to release the 2015 Dolphins draftee now. New England had traded for Parker as part of an oft-criticized effort to upgrade the talent around Mac Jones. The move produced a 539-yard, three-touchdown 2022 season. The Patriots still shopped for upgrades in 2023, adding Smith-Schuster and pursuing DeAndre Hopkins. And Parker underwhelmed last year, hauling in just 33 passes for 394 yards and no TDs.
Bourne, Demario Douglas and Smith-Schuster represent the Pats’ WR pillars so far, with the recently re-signed Hunter Henry set to continue as a pivotal part of the Pats’ passing attack. Parker is unlikely to find a strong market for his services; the one-time 1,000-yard receiver turned 31 in January.
Was a bad trade and Belichick was stupid enough to sign him to an extension, too bad they couldn’t get even a pick swap for him
The Patriots releasing or trading the entire team down to the studs only to have every free agent sign elsewhere and draft a QB that is going to get murdered behind that line. The era of disintegration is upon us.
Going on a spending spree on the first day of free agency is a good way to wind up with a bunch of bad contracts you have to eat two years later.
Fair enough, but they certainly need a WR and an O-Line. Maybe they could cobble a good enough package to get Higgins out of Cincy.
Need to unload Juju.
And Thornton
mcase, at least Thornton is still cheap.