Wide receiver DeVante Parker announces retirement two months after signing with Eagles
Just a couple months after signing with a new team, wide receiver DeVante Parker has decided instead to hang up his cleats.
Parker, a nine-season NFL veteran who was a 2015 NFL Draft first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins, told ESPN on Monday night that he is retiring.
Parker signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in March but has now decided to end his career following seven seasons with the Dolphins and his last two with the New England Patriots.
Having played almost a decade in the league, Parker finishes his NFL tenure with 402 catches for 5,660 yards and 27 touchdowns in 119 games.
The 31-year-old wide receiver had his best season in 2019, when he recorded 72 catches for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns, each of those numbers standing as career highs.
Parker spent the last two seasons in New England, and though he signed a three-year, $33 million extension last June, he went on to record only 33 catches for 394 yards in 13 games. The Patriots released him in March.
As for the Eagles, they’ll lose some depth with Parker’s retirement, but they’re still brimming with skill talent in the WR corps and beyond. Currently, Philly’s wide receiver depth chart has stars A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith atop it with free-agent acquisition Parris Campbell likely slotted at No. 3 and late-round rookies Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith looking to make an impact. Tight end Dallas Goedert and running back Saquon Barkley should also command plenty of targets from quarterback Jalen Hurts.
