After trading Davante Adams this past week for two draft selections in the top 60 picks, the Packers are in desperate need of a veteran receiver.
MVS might have priced himself too high for the Packers and Allen Lazard has never been more than the second or third option for Aaron Rodgers. Randall Cobb is staying in Green Bay but at this point in his career, he’s far from a number one guy for the back-to-back MVP.
With today’s news that Tyreek Hill has been traded to Miami, the Dolphins have been rumored to potentially trade veteran receiver DeVante Parker. Could the Packers swap one Davante for another DeVante?
Why Should the Packers Trade For Parker?
DeVante Parker is still only 29 years old (the same age as Davante Adams). He’s also been productive throughout his NFL career with no true threat at QB. Parker posted a PFF grade of 72.8 this season, which was the 41st highest score for receivers this season, even though he had Tua Tagovailoa throwing him the ball.
The reality is that Parker is a proven receiver, with four out of his seven seasons having more than 50 receptions without a single top 20 QB under center. He was also a first-round draft pick who came out of college with incredible potential that hasn’t ever really been realized. There’s a legit argument that an MVP-caliber quarterback throwing him the ball could unlock that potential.
Why Would Miami Agree to the Trade?
Miami just traded for Tyreek Hill and have second-year WR Jalen Waddle on their roster. At 29, Parker might not want to wait to see if Tagovailoa is a legit NFL quarterback or not. He still has two years left on his contract, but the way it’s set up means Parker is a likely early cut candidate for next offseason.
Parker could demand a trade, knowing he’s likely to be cut. He could also demand targets and stats before an offseason of contract offers. The Dolphins should be looking to offload cap and contracts after giving out a four year, $120 million contract to Tyreek Hill. Waddle will command a similar contract in three years.
The Dolphins also just signed their tight end Mgike Gesicki to a $10 million dollar one year contract. That is an awful lot of money tied up in receiving options. It might be best for Miami to use those funds elsewhere.
What Would it Take to Get Parker?
With who the Dolphins have now, Parker is likely their third option. He’s no Davante Adams or Tyreek Hill. He’s not even Amari Cooper, who was traded to the Browns for a fifth round draft pick. Cleveland took on Cooper’s salary, but that trade is closer to what it would likely take to snag Parker from the Dolphins. I think the trade would look something like this:
Dolphins receive:
5th round pick (No. 171 overall)
Packers receive:
WR DeVante Parker
Round 7 pick in 2023
This would still allow the Packers plenty of freedom in this year’s draft.
What Would This Do For the Packers?
Getting Parker would give Aaron Rodgers a more established number #1 receiver. While Parker has never been a “true” first option, he has the talent and potential to be one. Parker would slide in and be a realistic option to have 70+ receptions for the Packers. Green Bay does not currently have anyone on their roster who has ever come close to that.
This would also allow the Packers to draft receivers without the expectation that they have to be “studs” immediately. It would be a solid buffer year before asking rookie receivers to take over the receiver room next season.
For More Wisconsin Sports Content:
Follow me on Twitter @sam_davel and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content! To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here. Also, check out our merch store for some amazing WSH merchandise!
[pickup_prop id=”22016″]
