Miami Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker needed several coaching staffs and several seasons before finally breaking through his professional plateau. The end result? It was brilliant — and worth the wait. Parker torched his career highs in receiving production in 2019, playing with a physically dominant presence and finishing the season with 72 receptions for 1,202 yards and 9 touchdowns.
The 9 touchdowns Parker accounted for doubled his career total in his four previous seasons in the NFL and the16.7 yards per reception Parker posted was his best since his rookie season, where he averaged 19 yards per reception on 26 catches.
The raw numbers Parker put up were impressive enough — he was the AFC’s top wide receiver in terms of yardage. But when you put him through the filter of bargain value, Parker’s numbers are even easier to appreciate. Spotrac.com looks at the price of players relative to their production on the field — and DeVante Parker’s 2019 season was one of the more impressive years last season.
Parker’s 2019 annual average salary was $7.625M — remember that the Dolphins restructured/extended Parker last season on a two year deal. That contract was nullified by the end of the season as Parker earned a more long-term deal. And among NFL wide receivers, Parker’s 2019 season was the second best among NFL wide receivers not playing on rookie contracts. According to Spotrac, the only NFL wide receiver that brought more bang for their buck on a second contract was New Orleans’ Michael Thomas — who finished the season with 149 receptions for 1,725 yards and 9 scores.
It’s a testament to the job Parker did this past season and all the justification the Dolphins could possibly need in regards to Parker’s third NFL contract — the 4-year, $40M deal he signed late last season.
