Three years after the departure of legendary quarterback Tom Brady, the New England Patriots look to build a winning team.
They’ve made the playoffs just once since Brady left, going just 8-9 last season while dealing with an anemic offense.
New England took a step toward improvement when they acquired wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who helped the Kansas City Chiefs win the Super Bowl last season, earlier this offseason.
They also reached an agreement Wednesday with DeVante Parker to bolster their broad receiving corps.
Sources: The #patriots & WR DeVante Parker agreed to a new 3-year contract worth up to $33 million. The deal, made by Parker’s former agent and Management One owner Jimmy Gould, also includes $14 million in guarantees and per-game roster bonuses. Parker finds a home in NE. pic.twitter.com/0aEUVhZedU
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 28, 2023
Parker arrived in New England before last season and had 539 yards and three touchdowns during the 2022 season.
His best season came in 2019 when he had 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns as a member of the Miami Dolphins, the team he had played for his entire career before becoming a member of the Patriots.
Of course, the biggest key to any real success the team has in the near future is the development and production of quarterback Mac Jones.
As a rookie in 2021, Jones, the 15th pick in that year’s draft, threw for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns while being named to the Pro Bowl, and there was a feeling New England had found its new franchise.
But in 2022, his output dropped and the reality hit that Jones isn’t all that.
2023 is going to be huge for him as it will be his third pro season, which is the season quarterbacks traditionally either flourish or prove to be disappointments.
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Bill Belichick reacts to the tragic death of Ryan Mallett
