In a rare trade between rivals in the American East, the New England Patriots acquired Miami Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker and a 2022 fifth-round draft pick in exchange for a third-round pick. round in 2023, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday.
The Dolphins’ acquisition of Tyreek Hill and the signing of free agent Cedrick Wilson Jr. made Parker available. Miami will now have two first-round picks, one second-round and two third-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Parker could be a prime target for second-year Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, in a receiving group that includes Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne.
The Patriots inherit the two years remaining on Parker’s contract, who is on base salaries of $5.65 million in 2022 and $5.7 million in 2023.
The Patriots expect to receive a third-round pick in 2023 following the loss of cornerback JC Jackson as a free agent.
Parker played in ten games last season and had 40 receptions for 515 yards and two touchdowns.
During his NFL career, he played in 93 games, including 64 as a starter, totaling 338 receptions for 4,727 yards and 24 touchdowns. He is the Dolphins’ sixth-best receiver of all time.
Parker had his best season in 2019, when he recorded 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns with 72 catches. However, his production was limited due to health issues over the next two seasons, when he missed nine games combined and recorded a total of 1,308 receiving yards.
