The New England Patriots have made a move at wide receiver, but it’s not the one fans have been anticipating.

The Patriots have reached an agreement to sign veteran wide receiver DeVante Parker to a three-year contract extension worth up to $33 million with $14 million in guarantees and per-game roster bonuses, a source confirmed to A to Z Sports. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport was first to report the deal.

The move could open up to $3.7 million in cap space.

Free-agent wide receiver Jakobi Meyers signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason. That Parker's deal is worth up to $33 million is significant. That $14 million in guarantees could include injury guarantees and not full guarantees, as well.

Parker was viewed as a potential cut candidate if the Patriots signed veteran free agent DeAndre Hopkins. Releasing or trading Parker would have freed up $6.2 million in cap space with no dead money.

Parker, 30, was acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins last April for a third-round fifth-round pick swap. He caught 31 passes for 539 yards with three touchdowns in 13 games with New England last season. The 6-foot-3, 219-pound wideout has 369 catches for 5,255 yards with 27 touchdowns in 106 games over eight seasons.

He wasn’t the only cut candidate if New England adds Hopkins. The Patriots could free up over $5.4 million if they were to trade or cut wide receiver Kendrick Bourne.

Hopkins took a visit with New England and the Tennessee Titans. He was released by the Arizona Cardinals last month.

The Patriots currently have Parker, Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Demario Douglas, Ed Lee, Tre Nixon, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton and Raleigh Webb at wide receiver. Running back Ty Montgomery and tight end Mike Gesicki can also play the position.

Parker is essentially guaranteed a spot on the Patriots' 2023 roster with this move. We'll see if he'll be joined on offense by Hopkins, a five-time Pro Bowl selection.

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