When the Minnesota Vikings drafted Cordarrelle Patterson in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, they believed they were getting a fast superstar that would dominate for them. After four disappointing seasons, the Vikings let Patterson become a free agent and the Oakland Raiders have signed the speedy receiver to a two-year contract.
Cordarrelle Patterson's NFL career so far
The Minnesota Vikings expected a lot from Cordarrelle Patterson when they drafted him in 2013. The Vikings wanted the former Tennessee Volunteers standout so much that they traded four draft picks to the New England Patriots just so they could move back into the first round and pick Patterson.
Minnesota had already drafted Sharrif Floyd and Xavier Rhodes and wanted Patterson as well. Patterson really never caught on as a wide receiver. He led the NFL in kick return yards as a rookie and received All-Pro honors. He did get in on trick plays on offense that season. In 2014, Norv Turner tried to turn Cordarrelle into a typical wide receiver and he struggled. In 2015, he barely played at all but rebounded in 2016 when he caught 52 passes for 453 yards and two touchdowns. Where he did excel is in the kick return game, where he led the NFL in three of the last four seasons and earned All-Pro honors again. That might be where the Oakland Raiders see Patterson fitting in at.
Cordarrelle Patterson and the Oakland Raiders
Cordarrelle Patterson left a Minnesota Vikings team that is shaky at best, missing the playoffs in 2016 and then losing their best player in Adrian Peterson to free agency. He instead joins an Oakland Raiders team that was one of the best in 2016 and could have made it deep into the playoffs if quarterback Derek Carr had not fallen to injury.
The contract with the Raiders is a two-year deal that Oakland can void after one if Cordarrrelle fails to impress. However, the Raiders have solid wide receivers and Oakland is almost surely bringing in Patterson to return kicks while splitting time with Seth Roberts at slot receiver.
