When the Dolphins traded for Tyreek Hill and it became clear that DeVante Parker’s time in Miami was done, the veteran wide receiver knew exactly where he wanted to play next.
Now, after the Patriots sent a third-round pick to their division rival in exchange for the veteran pass catcher and a fifth-round pick, Parker’s desire has become a reality.
“My agent was just telling me what the situation was and the options I had for the teams to go to. First on my list was the Patriots,” Parker said in a Zoom session with New England reporters. “I know the Patriots have a great organization. The fans here are just outstanding, I know from experience coming in here how the fans were. That’s just something I wanted to be a part of.”
A veteran of seven NFL seasons, including four with 55 or more catches, the former first-round pick hopes to bring something different and impactful to the Patriots offense.
“Getting vertical down the field. Just doing whatever I can to help the team win,” Parker said. “Just bring that down-the-field guy. Whatever I can do to help the team out. High-pointing, whatever it is. Just staying on the field.”
That last part is key. Parker has only played in every game once in his NFL career, by far his best season back in 2019 when he notched career highs with 72 catches for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns. That production came with former New England wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea running the Miami offense, an experience that gave Parker a taste of what to expect in his new home and offensive system.
“The offenses were very similar. The offense helps everyone out a lot, actually. They can move you around and things like that. It’s something I’m looking forward to,” Parker said.
He’s also looking forward to catching passes from Mac Jones. He got a jumpstart on that process when he joined the second-year Patriots quarterback and some of New England’s other pass catchers in Florida for workouts this spring.
“The workouts were great. My impressions of Mac, he’s got a nice arm on him. He was zipping it,” Parker said. “It was just a great workout for all of us. It’s just good for me to come down and start throwing with them early, as soon as I can, get the timing down.
“Mac’s a good quarterback. Just the way he throws the ball, it’s not like tough. He throws a catchable ball. It’s something that I’m looking forward to during the season.”
Parker also noted the hard work put in by the other receivers during those workouts, a work ethic he certainly expects as part of life with his new team. He’s battled against the Patriots for years as a division rival, including a memorable 8-catch, 137-yard performance against Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore in the 2019 season finale at Gillette Stadium. Now Parker is getting his wish and finding out what it means to actually be a Patriot.
“Means a lot to me. I chose to get traded here. It’s something I’m looking forward to. The guys that I’ve already met are great guys already.
They brought me in just like a family and that’s something I love already,” Parker said. “They work hard. It’s something I just want to be a part of.”