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Patriots' Updated Depth Chart, Salary Cap After DeVante Parker Trade
April 2, 2022
The New England Patriots have acquired wide receiver DeVante Parker and a 2022 fifth-round draft selection from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2022 third-rounder, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Parker dominated with a 72-catch, 1,202-yard, nine-touchdown season in 2019, but he hasn't been able to find that same form since.
Injuries have been a big culprit. Parker had 40 catches for 515 yards and two touchdowns in 2021 while missing seven games in total.
Shoulder and hamstring injuries kept Parker out for Weeks 5 to 7. He returned for the Dolphins' 26-11 loss to the Bills on Oct. 31 but went on injured reserve and missed four more games with a hamstring injury.
Perhaps a change of scenery within the AFC East will rejuvenate Parker's career.
Here's a look at how the Pats' depth chart may look with Parker in the mix alongside a salary-cap update.
Depth Chart
QB: Mac Jones, Brian Hoyer
RB: Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, James White
WR 1: DeVante Parker
WR 2: Kendrick Bourne
WR 3: Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor, N'Keal Harry
TE: Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith
LT: Isaiah Wynn, Justin Herron
LG: Mike Onwenu, William Sherman
C: David Andrews, James Ferentz
RG: James Ferentz, Drew Desjarlais
RT: Trent Brown, Michael Onwenu
Source: Ourlads
Salary Cap
The Patriots were listed as having an effective cap space of just $1,667,361 on Saturday, per Over the Cap. Parker has a 2022 cap number of $8,744,118, so that would put the Pats at $7,076,757 over.
Parker is notably under contract for two more seasons:
Of course, the Pats can still move some money around via restructures and extensions to be cap-compliant.
Notes
It seemed like Parker's days were numbered in Miami with the Dolphins acquiring Tyreek Hill from the Kansas City Chiefs and signing Cedrick Wilson via free agency:
Mike Clay @MikeClayNFLParker was always a longshot to return to Miami after the Wilson and Hill acquisitions.<br><br>Current Dolphins WR situation:<br><br>Tyreek Hill<br>Jaylen Waddle<br>Cedrick Wilson<br>-<br>Preston Williams<br>Trent Sherfield<br>Lynn Bowden Jr.<br>River Cracraft<br>Cody Core<br>Devonte Dedmon
The Patriots were a logical trade partner considering their longtime interest in Parker, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:
Ian Rapoport @RapSheetThe <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Patriots?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Patriots</a> have long been impressed with WR DeVante Parker, and make a rare trade in the AFC East to acquire him. Meanwhile, the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dolphins?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dolphins</a> shed salary and load up for the 2023 draft. Five picks in three rounds — two 1s, a 2, two 3s.
Plus, the Pats' options to upgrade at wideout elsewhere proved fruitless, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler:
Ultimately, this trade made sense for both sides, as noted by ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques:
Marcel Louis-Jacques @Marcel_LJDeVante Parker didn’t necessarily fit the new mold of the Dolphins’ receiver room. He’ll have a chance to be Mac Jones’ number one receiver in New England, while the Dolphins add to their bevy of early round pics in 2023 <a href="https://t.co/YkkA94IxQg">https://t.co/YkkA94IxQg</a>
Second-year quarterback Mac Jones already had a bevy of options to throw to last year en route to helping lead the Pats to a 10-win season and a playoff appearance.
Now he has another one in Parker, who could lead the team in receiving by the time the 2022 season is done.