Patriots To Trade Ex First-Round Pick DeVante Parker ... For Nothing?!
With the New England Patriots reportedly inching toward a quarterback selection at the 2024 NFL Draft, the team is analyzing the future first-year thrower's potential arsenal.
A report from Chad Graff and Jeff Howe of The Athletic hints that DeVante Parker might not have a part to play in that future: the duo declares that New England will reportedly "dangle" his services in front of suitors even if the return is less than ideal.
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"Due to the contract extension (Bill) Belichick gave the now-31-year-old wideout last season, it’s not easy to cut Parker before June 1," the duo's report explains. "If they do, they’d incur more than $6 million in dead cap while opening little additional cap space. But in what could be a bit of a loophole, they could clear more than $3 million in cap space if they trade Parker."
"Look for the Patriots to dangle Parker in trade talks in the coming weeks even if they would get only a late-round pick in return."
Previously a first-round pick of Miami's, Parker has failed to recapture the spark of a 1,202-yard, nine-touchdown season from 2019. He was traded to New England shortly before the 2022 draft and has amassed only 933 yards and three scores in the ensuing couple of campaigns. Parker impressed well enough in year one to earn a $10.8 million contract extension last summer, but amidst New England's turnstile at quarterback last season, he put up a career-low 394 yards and was held out of the end zone entirely.
If New England opts to stay patient with Parker, the dead cap penalty significantly shrinks to $1.5 million to go with $5 million in savings. However, the team has enough to worry about beyond playing host to Parker's potential redemption story so a fresh start for all parties might be the best thing for all involved, even if it comes at the cost of each side's ego.
As it stands, New England holds a standard seven picks in the upcoming draft, the lone adjustment being their seventh-rounder, as they hold Chicago's after dealing away another aerial washout, N'Keal Harry, in 2022.
