Preston Parker’s role in the Buccaneers offense figures to drop with the arrival of Vincent Jackson, but he got a contract extension from the team nonetheless.
Brian McIntyre of NFL.com reports that the team has signed Parker through next season. The deal has a base salary of $1 million as well as a $50,000 signing bonus. Parker was re-signed by the team as an exclusive rights free agent earlier this offseason and he’s set to make $540,000 this season.
The only part of that money that is guaranteed is the signing bonus, so the extension doesn’t really guarantee Parker anything over the next two years. If he’s going to stick around long enough to claim the other $1.54 million, he’s going to have to keep producing as a slot receiver. He caught 40 passes last season, behind only Mike Williams among the team’s wide receivers, and should battle Dezmon Briscoe and Sammie Stroughter for snaps this summer.
Parker can also make an impact as a returner, although he struggled in that role last season. He fumbled two punts in a loss to the Jaguars and fumbled eight times overall last season. That’s not going to help him fulfill his new contract if it continues.