3 reasons Chicago Bears made right move not trading for DeVante Parker

Chicago Bears (Syndication: Palm Beach Post)

The Chicago Bears were right not to trade for DeVante Parker due to his injury history

In terms of how many games he played in, not started, that number goes from 64 to 93. He’s played in 29 games that he hasn’t started, meaning he’s only played in approximately 80% of games in his career.

And while that might not seem like too many games missed, here’s the breakdown of how much he’s played in each season.

DeVante Parker’s career snaps played

• 2015: 14 games played, 4 games started, 52% offensive snaps
• 2016: 15 games played, 8 games started, 82% offensive snaps
• 2017: 13 games played, 12 games started, 81% offensive snaps
• 2018: 11 games played, seven games started, 65% offensive snaps
• 2019: 16 games played, 14 games started, 84% offensive snaps
• 2020: 14 games played, 11 games started, 78% offensive snaps
• 2021: 10 games played, 8 games started, 81% offensive snaps

Now, when seeing it like that, it doesn’t look like he missed too much, right? Well, how did Parker play during those snaps? Wonderful question.

DeVante Parker career stats

• 2015: 50 targets, 26 receptions, 494 yards, 3 TDs
• 2016: 87 targets, 56 receptions, 744 yards, 4 TDs
• 2017: 96 targets, 57 receptions, 670 yards, 1 TD
• 2018: 47 targets, 24 receptions, 309 yards, 1 TD
• 2019: 128 targets, 72 receptions, 1,202 yards, 9 TDs
• 2020: 103 targets, 63 receptions, 793 yards, 4 TDs
• 2021: 74 targets, 40 receptions, 515 yards, 2 TDs

While he’s able to produce from time to time, the Bears don’t need to be trading draft capital for Parker. Especially in this year’s draft, there’s nothing saying that a receiver taken in the third round can’t be better than DeVante Parker.

The Bears were even able to use a lower pick – a fifth-round pick – on Darnell Mooney who’s seemingly an alright receiver for the Chicago Bears.

Obviously, it shouldn’t be expected that each fifth-rounder is going to turn into what Darnell Mooney’s turned into, but at the same time, it’s impossible to say that someone like him can’t come to the Bears in the draft.

Who else was drafted in the fifth round and turned out to be a decent receiver? You guessed it: Tyreek Hill. Hill was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 165th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Again, Tyreek Hills won’t always drop to the fifth round, but it just goes to show that it is possible to get someone that talented that late in the draft.

And while DeVante Parker might be a good receiver, his injury history is a big reason why the Bears are on the right side of history by not trading for him.

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