4 Patriots on Thin Ice Heading Into Free Agency
3. WR DeVante Parker
Imagine that. Another member of the Patriots' passing game is also on thin ice.
Like Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker is another wideout who barely generated any results. The oft-injured receiver started in all 13 of his 2023 appearances, hauling in 33 balls for 394 yards without a touchdown for the first time in his nine-year career. The 30.3 receiving yards he averaged per game were the second-worst rate of his career while his 66.8 passer rating when targeted further highlighted his lack of reliability.
Parker is signed through the 2025 campaign, carrying a cap hit of $6.4 million in 2024. While it's clear that the ex-Louisville Cardinal's production doesn't match his price tag, the Patriots can save the following amount of money if they move on from him this offseason, per Spotrac.
Pre-June 1 Cut Savings | Pre-June 1 Trade Savings | Post-June 1 Cut Savings | Post-June 1 Trade Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
$133,332 | $3,333,332 | $1,700,000 | $4,900,000 |
This year's free-agent WR class is deep, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Patriots opt to replace Parker with someone as good (if not better) at a fraction of the cost. He just isn't worth the money for the on-field results he brings (or lack thereof).