DeVante Parker Abruptly Retires Two Months After Signing with Eagles

DeVante Parker Abruptly Retires Two Months After Signing with Eagles originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia

Veteran wide receiver DeVante Parker, who was expected to compete for the Eagles’ third wide receiver spot this summer, has decided to retire, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Parker, 31, who has four children, told Schefter: “I want to see my kids and spend quality time with them. I want to be there for them whenever I can.”

The Eagles signed Parker to a one-year contract in March, and with Quez Watkins, Julio Jones and Olamide Zaccheaus no longer on the team, Parker along with veteran Parris Campbell and rookies Ainias Smith of Texas A&M and Johnny Wilson of Florida State were expected to be in contention for playing time behind starters AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Parker spoke to the Philadelphia media in March and said he was excited to be part of an organization that has been to the playoffs for three consecutive years.

“I’m just coming in to bring whatever I can to help the team,” he said. “Whatever I can, whatever I’m asked to do, that’s what I’ll do.

“It’s a great organization, a great defender and unlimited talent. The talent here is incredible. I just feel like I want to be a part of it.”

Parker joins a list of Eagles who were never Eagles that includes Mark Brunell, Marquise Goodwin and Myles Jack.

Parker caught 402 passes for 5,660 passes and 27 touchdowns in nine seasons, the first seven with the Dolphins, the last two with the Patriots.

He was considered a huge disappointment as the 14th^th player picked in the 2015 draft, but had a breakout season in 2019, when he ranked fifth in the NFL with 1,202 yards and sixth with nine touchdown receptions.

Parker caught 64 passes for 933 yards and three TDs over the last two years with the Patriots and signed a one-year, $1.21 million veteran-minimum contract with the Eagles. According to Spotrac, there was no bonus, meaning there is no dead money for the Eagles to deal with and no salary cap implications.

According to Spotrac, Parker earned $57.34 million in his nine NFL seasons, about $41.18 million of that with the Dolphins.

With Parker out of the picture, Campbell becomes the top veteran candidate behind Brown and Smith.

Campbell, like Parker, is considered a huge disappointment in the draft. In five years since the Colts drafted him in the second round in 2019, he has 117 receptions for 1,087 yards and five touchdowns. Campbell was 20-of-104 and had no TDs last year with the Giants after spending his first four seasons with the Colts, including 2019 and 2020 with Nick Sirianni as his offensive coordinator.

In addition to the two rookies, the Eagles also have punt returner Britain Covey, 2023 practice squad member Joseph Ngata, former Browns practice squad squad member Austin Watkins and former undrafted Saint Shaquan Davis on the roster. Of that group, only Covey played in the NFL. He had four receptions for 32 yards last year and also averaged 14.4 yards per punt return.

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