Patriots to release veteran WR

This appeared in the cards recently, with reports the Pats were attempting to trade the former first-round pick. With Parker attached to an extension signed last year and the veteran north of 30 and coming off an unimpressive season, trade efforts seemed like an uphill battle. As such, the Pats are moving Parker off the roster.

New England has JuJu Smith-Schuster signed to a three-year deal that includes a guaranteed $7M for 2024, and the team just re-signed Kendrick Bourne. With a Calvin Ridley pursuit on the team’s radar, it did not appear Parker had a place on the 2024 Patriots roster.

Parker signed a Patriots extension last year, but only $9.1M of the summer accord came guaranteed. This left Parker vulnerable; it cost the Patriots just more than $3M to release the 2015 Dolphins draftee now. 

New England had traded for Parker as part of an oft-criticized effort to upgrade the talent around Mac Jones. The move produced a 539-yard, three-touchdown 2022 season. 

The Patriots still shopped for upgrades in 2023, adding Smith-Schuster and pursuing DeAndre Hopkins. And Parker underwhelmed last year, hauling in just 33 passes for 394 yards and no touchdowns.

Bourne, Demario Douglas and Smith-Schuster represent the Pats’ WR pillars so far, with the recently re-signed Hunter Henry set to continue as a pivotal part of the Pats’ passing attack. 

Parker is unlikely to find a strong market for his services; the one-time 1,000-yard receiver turned 31 in January.