Dolphins deal Parker to Patriots for pick

A trade of Miami Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker this offseason was somewhat expected. For it to come within the division was a bit of a surprise.

The Dolphins agreed to trade Parker to the New England Patriots on Saturday, along with a fifthround pick in this month’s draft, for a 2023 third-round pick, according to a league source.

Parker became expendable after the Dolphins added wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Cedrick Wilson Jr. this offseason - Hill via trade with the Kansas City Chiefs and Wilson in free agency after his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys. They will be paired with standout receiver Jaylen Waddle going into his second year. Tight end Mike Gesicki also often lines up in the slot or out wide.

In seven seasons in Miami since he was the team’s first-round pick in the 2015 draft, Parker caught 338 passes for 4,727 yards and 24 touchdowns. Parker missed 20 games in that span and played through injury in several more.

Parker was previously the longest-tenured active Dolphin, a distinction which now belongs to Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard.

The Dolphins were able to find a trade partner for Parker, who was slated for a salary cap hit of $8,744,110 in 2022. The dead cap taken on had Miami simply released him would’ve been $5.4 million, only just over $3.3 million gained in cap space had the team gone that route. Keeping Parker another season and releasing him in the 2023 offseason would’ve saved the Dolphins $6.3 million in 2023 cap space. Essentially, the likely options were either to trade him this offseason or release him in 2023.

In dealing the 6-foot-3 Parker, 29, the Dolphins lose a possession receiver whose big body would have complemented the smaller, speedy combination of Hill and Waddle. Parker was capable of catching contested passes over defensive backs.

The Patriots were in need of receivers to give second-year quarterback Mac Jones more passcatching targets.

Raiders, Mullens agree on contract

Las Vegas agreed to terms with backup quarterback Nick Mullens.

Mullens, most recently with Cleveland, figures to compete for the No. 2 role behind Derek Carr with Garrett Gilbert, who signed in Las Vegas earlier this offseason. Mullens previously spent time with the San Francisco 49ers, starting 16 games combined in 2018 and 2020 and backing up Jimmy Garoppolo in between.

Kaepernick auditions at Michigan workout

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick reunited with head coach Jim Harbaugh Saturday at Michigan’s spring game, where he was invited to participate in a throwing audition for NFL scouts.

Kaepernick told WXYZ after the halftime showcase that he “absolutely” still has what it takes to play in the NFL and hopes Saturday’s showing will create more conversations with teams.

“Really, getting out here for the exhibition was to be able to show that I can do that. It’s one of the questions that my agent kept getting. ‘Well it’s been five years, can he still play?’ ” Kaepernick said. “So we want to make sure that we come out and show that I can still play, still throw it and really just looking for an opportunity for a door to open — to have that be a pathway to be able to get back in there, get a starting job and lead a team to a championship. I can help make you a better team, I can help you win games.”

Kaepernick last played in the league in 2016, the same year he started kneeling during the national anthem in protest of racial injustice.