Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier is offering new insight into the trade that sent wide receiver DeVante Parker to the Patriots.
The wideout was traded to New England along with a 2022 fifth-rounder in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick. Parker has already been active with his new Patriots teammates, attending several workouts with Mac Jones and other offensive skill players.
Parker looks to contribute to a Patriots wide receiver unit that is struggling for depth. His best season came in 2019, when he caught 72 passes for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns. He was able to play in all 16 games that season.
In speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Grier talked about the process behind the trade as transcribed by Dakota Randall of NESN.com.
You’ve seen over the years more teams doing inter-division trades,” Grier told reporters. “Which, before, when I first started here, you’d never do that. I think the last time we did it was with our current receiver coach (Wes Welker) — which didn’t turn out well for us then.
“But I think, when you have an opportunity to right by the player and the organization, both sides feel good about it. … Like I said, this was never anything where we planned to trade DeVante. … Once we made the trade for Tyreek (Hill), we received multiple phone calls. I think most teams assumed that … DeVante would be (available). Multiple teams called. The Patriots were the most aggressive. And, at the end of the day, worked with the agent, talked to DeVante, wanted to do right by him, too, as well. But getting that third-round pick was very important for us, and we were fine with this year or next year.”
Welker ended up playing six years for the Patriots. He recorded 672 receptions for 7459 yards and 37 touchdowns. He would go on to make five straight Pro Bowls from 2008-2012. He was also named a two-time first-team All-Pro in 2009 and 2011, as well as a two-time Second-team All-Pro in 2007 and 2008.
Parker comes to New England with a receiving unit featuring the likes of Kendrick Bourne and Jakobi Meyers. Meyers has led the team in receiving for the past two seasons. He recorded 866 yards last year, and tallied the first two touchdowns of his career.
