NFL Player News

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.

GM Joe Schoen noted Monday that he's hopeful Shepard (Achilles) will be back by August, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Shepard, who tore his Achilles back on Dec. 19, has made good progress in his recovery, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Newark Star-Ledger. That said, the wideout figures to be eased into the training camp/preseason mix by the Giants, with an eye toward giving him a shot to be available for Week 1 action. Prior to his injury, Shepard recorded 36 catches for 366 yards and a TD in seven games, and once he's up to speed, the 29-year-old will look to reestablish his role in a WR corps that also includes Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney (shoulder) and Darius Slayton.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hinted Monday that Gallup (knee) isn't a lock to be available for Week 1 action, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The Cowboys clearly have confidence in Gallup's long-term prospects, having recently signed the wideout to a five-year deal, reportedly worth up to $62.5 million. However, Jones acknowledged that Gallup, who tore his ACL this past January, may not be 100 percent by the time the team's season opener rolls around. "Optimistically, I expect him to give us a question mark around the first game," Jones noted Monday. "And I see a conversation that says conservatively, you would like to have a couple more games to get him out there." Once Gallup is ready play, he and CeeDee Lamb will head Dallas' wideout corps, with Amari Cooper no longer in the mix, but if Gallup ends up out or limited early on this season, added opportunities would be available for James Washington and Noah Brown.

Smith has signed a two-year deal with the Saints, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Per Yates, Smith's deal to remain with the Saints carries a base value of $6 million, with the chance to earn the wideout another $4.5 million through incentives and escalators. The 26-year-old is coming off a 2021 campaign in which he caught 32 of his 50 targets for 377 yards and three TDs in 11 games. This coming season, the 2018 third-rounder is in line to compete for targets behind Michael Thomas (ankle) with the likes of Marquez Callaway (thumb) and Deonte Harris in the team's Jameis Winston-led offense. Moreover, there's a chance that New Orleans could add further wide receiver depth via free agency or the draft.

Waddle is likely to slide down the wide receiver depth chart following Miami's acquisition of Tyreek Hill in a trade with the Chiefs, Travis Wingfield of the team's official site reports.

Waddle set an NFL rookie record with 104 catches last season, while also surpassing 1,000 receiving yards and scoring six touchdowns, but he no longer seems like the favorite for the No. 1 wideout spot entering the 2022 season. Hill, whose skill set inspires obvious comparisons to Waddle's, established himself as one of the top playmakers in the league during his time in Kansas City and figures to operate as a pillar of new coach Mike McDaniel's scheme. The six-time Pro Bowler commanded 159 targets in 2021 and surpassed 1,100 receiving yards in four of the last five seasons. While there's still plenty of reason for excitement about Waddle's future, especially in dynasty formats, Hill's arrival could serve to limit the second-year pro's production upside for 2022. Mike Gesicki, Cedrick Wilson and incumbent DeVante Parker also stand to demand a share of targets.