Could DeVante Parker be the odd receiver out?

On Tuesday August 24th, the Miami Dolphins announced they had waived WR Isaiah Ford, waived/injured WR Robert Foster and placed Lynn Bowden Jr. on injured reserve, ending his season.

The WR room currently consists of:

-Devante Parker

-Will Fuller

-Jaylen Waddle

-Albert Wilson

-Jakeem Grant

-Preston Williams

-Mack Hollins

-Kirk Merritt

-Malcolm Perry

-Khalil Mclain

-Kai Locksley

While the WR room and the roster as a whole is not set in stone yet as things may change throughout the week leading up to cutdown day.

I expect a move by the Dolphins to trade one of these  Wide Receivers off for compensation, here’s who:

Devante Parker

We all love Devante Parker, when he’s healthy, the team has slated him as the primary WR on the field. Since 2015 Parker has 298 receptions, 4212 yards, and 22 touchdowns; furthermore the bulk of them coming in 2019. 

However, Parker has shown an inability to stay healthy; his lone season was in 2019. Tua has shown he’s able to place the ball to Parker efficiently and is a weapon to be used. And yet, Parker has been in a red-no contact shirt at practice multiple times for fear of another injury. If the Dolphins fear of another injury to Parker what could it mean about his availability for next season?

The Dolphins have good depth in the WR room to not be reliant on Parker, so why keep him?

Miami could trade Parker for assets, especially for the offensive line if help is needed, as it appears it may be. There are several receiver-needy teams that could use Parker as a weapon on the outside, such as the Saints and the Lions. The Dolphins could reel in an pass protector or a mid round draft asset for Parker.

Also, Miami has a potential out after this year with Parker but it comes with a steep cap around $12 million. The Dolphins would be able to shave his salary off the books to potentially extend tight end Mike Gesicki or defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah.

Or maybe give Xavien Howard a new contract at the end of the season, after restructuring his deal to keep him happy for this camp.

The Dolphins have not been emotional in roster decisions. It has been all about business since the Chris Grier era.

Modern day offenses are changing before our eyes. Parker may be a great contested catch type of WR, but we know that is not Tua’s biggest strength. 

Instead, what Tua may need could be WR’s who can be contested catch guys, but win their battles separating from the defender and gaining yards after catch. After all, that is who they brought in with Will Fuller and Jaylen Waddle.

There are several WR’s next season that can fill the DeVante Parker role next season in the draft. Some of these guys could be but not limited to: Zay Flowers (BC), Ty Fryfogle (Indiana), Jalen Tolbert (S. Alabama), Reggie Roberson Jr. (SMU) and Christian Watson (NDSU).

Not to mention, Preston Williams, Mack Hollins and Kirk Merrit could fill DeVante Parker’s spot on the roster and make him expendable.

This could happen between now and the trade deadline, or not at all. But if it does, don’t be stunned. 

Follow new Five Reasons Sports contributor @HussamPatel on Twitter.