Parker proud of his run with team
WR eager to showcase rapport with Tagovailoa
Say what you want about DeVante Parker. The nagging injuries have cost him some playing time and hurt his production.
His shy, playful demeanor may be unassuming compared to a showy, alpha-dog NFL receiver.
He might not have completely lived up to lofty, and perhaps, unfair expectations as the
Miami Dolphins’ first-round pick in 2015.
But Parker doesn’t care about what others may say or opine about him. Despite it all, he’s still standing.
And that’s a major accomplishment as Parker prepares for his seventh NFL season with the franchise this year.
“It’s something that doesn’t happen very often,” Parker said Wednesday about his longevity with the Dolphins.
“I’m just proud I’m still here and to be able to be doing what I’m doing.”
Parker has seen the rise and fall of several Dolphins coaching and executive regimes during his time in Miami, and he will be depended on during the 2021 season to help the current one take its next step.
Parker, who can make up to $12.1 million this season and has two years remaining on his contract, has been trusted by Dolphins
coach Brian Flores and general manager Chris Grier to continue being the team’s No. 1 receiver.
With that responsibility comes fostering a greater connection with Dolphins second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, which has been well underway this offseason.
Before Miami convened for offseason training activities in late May, Parker says Tagovailoa orchestrated practices with other Dolphins receivers to get a head start on learning their new offense and creating chemistry.
“We’re all in a group chat,” Parker said. “Tua put us in a group chat and texted us and we’ll just meet up and start throwing and try to get the rhythm down early.
“I’d say it can help out a lot,” Parker added. “Just spending time with each other, even if it’s off the field, just getting that camaraderie going. Everybody knows each other better than what we had before.”
During those workouts, Parker has noticed an improvement in Tagovailoa’s footwork and mechanics, which have allowed Tagovailoa to throw the ball quicker after the snap.
Parker hopes having a greater feel for how Tagovailoa will throw a certain pass, where he needs to position himself on the field, and how to adjust when plays are disrupted show their strengthened continuity.
“It just comes down to getting a lot of reps in with him and just taking it to the game. That’s all it comes down to,” Parker said of him and Tagovailoa working this offseason.
“That’s something that
we’re looking forward to.”
Joining Parker in the Dolphins receiver room this season will be the team’s new first-round slot receiver Jaylen Waddle, speedy free-agent acquisition Will Fuller V and the return of third-year receiver Preston Williams from a foot injury that prematurely ended his 2020 season.
Parker bashfully laughed when asked how Waddle and Fuller could open opportunities for him on the outside, but shared his excitement when the Dolphins drafted Waddle with the sixth pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
“It brings another guy, another weapon, to the team. That’s another guy that can help us,” Parker said of Waddle. “He’s a very quick learner. He listens to what you have to say. We just coach him up and he listens to you. He texts the coaches.”
As for Parker, he has spent this offseason working on strength training and route running to be “quicker, faster and more explosive.”
Parker had the best season of his career in 2019, leading the Dolphins with 72 catches for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns while playing in all 16 games for the first time, too.
A hamstring injury caused him to miss two games last season, but he was still able to lead Miami with 793 receiving yards in 14 games, while adding four touchdowns.
As for 2021, Parker hopes to continue making a significant contribution to the Dolphins offense.
And if he can produce like a 1,000-yard receiver or can play an entire season again, it’ll be a another positive to his NFL career with the Dolphins.
“I have the same goals I always have” Parker said coyly. “That’s it.”