Free agent wide receiver and special teams ace Cordarrelle Patterson is arguably the greatest kick returner in NFL history. While Devin Hester is the unquestioned GOAT in the punt returner category, Patterson has made a living off making big plays on kicks. Of course, he’s no slouch on offense either, as the offensive weapon proved to be one of the most effective players in the game on gadget plays. Arthur Smith brought out the best in him, turning the Tennessee product into a legitimate dual-threat weapon in 2021 and 2022.
Unfortunately, it appears as though his time in Atlanta is done. After three years with the Falcons, Cordarrelle Patterson is now a free agent and it appears as though his time with the team is done. Taking to Twitter, the Four-Time All-Pro said that “it’s been real” as he looks for his next team.
ATL it’s been real ✊🏿
— cordarrelle patterson (@ceeflashpee84) March 14, 2024
Free Agent Cordarelle Patterson Says Goodbye to Falcons: “It’s Been Real”
Now entering his age-33 season, free agent Cordarrelle Patterson is starting to slow down a bit. After recording over 600 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons with the Falcons, Patterson finished the 2023 season with just 181 rushing yards on 50 carries. While some of this had to do with the arrival of Bijan Robinson, it’s still not a good sign.
Additionally, Patterson didn’t handle quite as much work in the return game. Atlanta had him return just seven kicks and turned those opportunities into 153 yards. He’s not the player he once was, but Cordarrelle Patterson is still probably the best free agent returner on the market. While he certainly won’t break the bank, a few teams should be interested in bringing the offensive weapon in, just to see what’s left in his tank.
Possible Team Fits
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers need another set of hands after the Diontae Johnson trade, and with most of the good players already signed, the team could go after Cordarrelle Patterson as a free agent. Say what you will about offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, but he knows how to get the most out of Patterson. With no dangerous running back on the roster (Najee Harris doesn’t count), Patterson could step into an immediate role for Russell Wilson and this offense.
New England Patriots
Who is going to catch the ball for the New England Patriots? That’s the question the team refuses to answer after losing out on Calvin Ridley and seemingly showing no interest in Marquise Brown and Keenan Allen. Cordarrelle Patterson is not good enough to be the top option in a passing attack, but the free agent can be a fun player of gadget plays. The former first-round pick helped the team win a Super Bowl back in 2018, and there are still a few familiar faces in the building who would know how to incorporate him into the offense.
Los Angeles Chargers
Optimists believed that Jim Harbaugh’s aversion to the forward pass had something to do with his quarterbacks. However, now that he has a top-five quarterback in Justin Herbert, Harbaugh is proving that he is responsible for the low pass volume. With Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler out of town, somebody will have to step up, and that someone could be Cordarrelle Patterson as a free agent. Gus Edwards is a fine downhill runner, but he doesn’t offer much as a receiver. Patterson can take over Ekeler’s receiving role and should see plenty of work in this offense.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have done a good job of surrounding Bryce Young with talent. However, their work isn’t done yet, as they could use a cheap free agent like Cordarrelle Patterson. Laviska Shenault has not worked out for this team, and Patterson is basically just a better version of the former second-round pick. The four-time All-Pro won’t need to be a featured part of the rushing or passing attack, but he can provide some juice on gadget plays while bringing a dangerous element to the return game.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew – USA Today Sports
