NFL Player News

Following the team's trade for DeVante Parker, Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic suggests that the Patriots could consider using Agholor more out of the slot.

At first glance, the addition of Parker to the mix doesn't seem to bode well for Agholor's prospects of seeing increased volume in 2022, with Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne also in the team's wide receiver mix. In the first season of his two-year deal with New England, Agholor finished with 37 catches (on 64 targets) for 473 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games. Though the 2015 first-rounder has the ability to provide the team with a downfield threat, it remains to be seen if he'll see enough steady snaps (be it outside or in the slot) and targets to make much of a fantasy splash this time around. That said, when injuries hit, the Patriots now are in a better position to cope, given that they have a clear-cut top four heading their WR depth chart.

The addition of Parker gives the Patriots "a physical boundary receiver with No. 1 potential," according to Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic.

That's a notion echoed by ESPN's Mike Reiss, who suggests that Parker is projected to fill a role -- that of a big target who can win in contested-catch scenarios -- which 2019 first-rounder N'Keal Harry wasn't able to seize. Per Fairburn, if Parker can stay healthy, the 29-year-old has a chance to emerge as the Patriots' top wideout, but Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor all remain in the mix for targets, as do tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. Despite the potential that New England's offense spreads the ball around among its pass catchers and continues to rely heavily on the run, Parker has the skill to bounce back in 2022 after posting a 40-515-2 stat line (on 73 targets) in 10 games with the Dolphins last season.

ESPN's Mike Reiss suggests that the Patriots' trade for DeVante Parker foreshadows the team parting ways with Harry.

With Parker joining Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor in New England's wideout mix, Harry looks like the odd man out. Since being drafted in 2019, the Arizona State product hasn't produced as hoped, with Parker -- a big target who can win in contested-catch scenarios -- slated to fill a role that the team had projected for Harry. This past season, the 24-year-old caught just 12 passes (on 22 targets) for 184 yards in 12 games, and at this stage a change of scenery probably would benefit the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder, who's approaching the fourth year of his rookie deal.

Johnson (ribs) will have to compete with free-agent signee Russell Gage and the returning Breshad Perriman (abdomen) for snaps behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (knee) in 2022, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Johnson posted seven tallies of at least three receptions during the 2021 season and added another five grabs during the Buccaneers' two-game playoff run. The second-year wideout undoubtedly made strides while logging 38 more targets and 328 more snaps than in his rookie 2020 campaign, but the signing of Gage gives him some more experienced competition. The former Falcons wideout produced a 138-1,556-8 line across the last two seasons alone, and in addition to Gage, Johnson also will have to deal with the presence of Perriman, who has experience in the offense and brings some coveted deep speed. Godwin's likely absence early in the season will give Johnson a clearer path to meaningful snaps no matter where he ends up in the pecking order, but he'll have to make a notable impact to ensure that remains the norm once his teammate is healthy.

The Dolphins have traded Parker and a 2022 fifth-round pick to the Patriots in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

With the emergence of Jaylen Waddle in 2021 and the recent addition of Tyreek Hill, Parker was the odd-man out in Miami. He recorded just 40 receptions for 515 yards and two touchdowns across 10 games for the Dolphins last year. The veteran pass catcher will now look for a fresh start in New England, where he will have the opportunity to earn a significant role in the offense.

Hart has re-signed with the Seahawks via his exclusive rights free agent tender, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

Hart has played in 20 games for the Seahawks over the previous two seasons after spending his roookie campaign on the practice squad. He recorded seven receptions for 59 yards in 2021 but was primarily used on special teams, and he projects for a similar role in the upcoming season.

The Falcons and Byrd agreed to a one-year contract Friday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Atlanta has lost Calvin Ridley to a season-long suspension and Russell Gage to the Buccaneers in free agency, leaving the team short of capable bodies at wide receiver. Olamide Zaccheaus is the most notable holdover, but he has just 54 catches and 90 targets in 38 games on his career ledger. Meanwhile, Byrd has averaged 12.3 YPC and 8.0 YPT on his 161 targets over the past three seasons. As the WR group stands at the moment, Byrd and Zaccheaus serve as the top two players at the position for new starting quarterback Marcus Mariota.

New Orleans re-signed Humphrey, a restricted free agent, to a contract Wednesday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Humphrey recently dealt with an ankle injury, per Underhill, but he's fully on track for the start of the offseason program. After compiling a career-high 249 receiving yards through 10 games last season, Humphrey figures to once again compete for a depth role with the Saints.

Coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday, when asked about a potential contract extension for Metcalf (foot), that "we have not gotten to that topic yet specifically because we've got so many other things going on," Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

Metcalf is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and with quarterback Russell Wilson having been traded to the Broncos, Seattle's roster is facing a transition to a new era. Carroll did say the Seahawks "intend for [Metcalf] to be with us" for the long term, but at least in the early stages of the offseason, it appears extending the 2019 second-round pick hasn't ranked atop the team's list of priorities. Per Condotta, Carroll suggested that extensions will be dealt with after the free agency period has completely run its course. For the time being Drew Lock stands atop the depth chart at QB, but it seems likely that Seattle will add competition for the starting job via a trade, free agency, or in April's draft, potentially with the ninth overall pick.

Edwards appeared likely to enter his third NFL season as the No. 3 option at wide receiver for the Raiders following the team's trade for first-team All-Pro Davante Adams, but the recent addition of Demarcus Robinson could create a job battle for Edwards, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.

Edwards' sophomore campaign in Las Vegas included a 34-571-3 line on 59 targets in 16 games, but he fell well behind teammates Hunter Renfrow and Zay Jones from a production standpoint throughout the latter half of the 2021 regular season. Jones has since departed for Jacksonville, but the aforementioned Adams' arrival brings another volume-heavy playmaker to an aerial attack that also features tight end Darren Waller. Edwards has the physical tools to beat out Robinson for a starting job opposite Adams with Renfrow occupying the slot, but Robinson has experience on his side with 42 starts in 97 career games with his former squad in Kansas City.