Cordarrelle Patterson has been a dominant return specialist during the period in which that job decreased in importance. As the NFL prepares to revive this play, the Steelers are bringing in a perennial All-Pro.
Pittsburgh is signing Patterson to a two-year deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This will reunite the versatile performer with Arthur Smith, who was at the controls when Patterson shifted to running back in Atlanta.
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The NFL moved its kickoff line from the 30-yard line back to the 35 — its location until 1994 — in 2011. This did not stop Patterson from impacting games in the years that followed. The 2013 first-round pick was never able to catch on as a wide receiver, but he has been this NFL period’s premier kick returner and one of the greatest in NFL history. Not dabbling much in the punt-return game, Patterson has racked up four first-team All-Pro honors as a kick returner. He has the most kick-return touchdowns (nine) in NFL history.
While Patterson’s return accomplishments are well known, he made a decent impact at a new position under Smith in Atlanta. The Falcons moved the former wide receiver to running back in 2021, making him their starter despite being at an age when running backs struggle to gain employment. Patterson became a running back at 30 and functioned as a regular for the Falcons at that post in 2021 and ’22.
The ex-Vikings top pick racked up 1,166 scrimmage yards in 2021, helping a team that had traded Julio Jones and saw Calvin Ridley leave early in the season due to mental health reasons. Despite Patterson being north of 30 at the time, the Falcons then gave him a two-year, $10.5MM deal. The 2022 arrival of Tyler Allgeier minimized Patterson’s backfield role, but he still gained a career-high 695 rushing yards despite missing four games that season. The Falcons ranked third in rushing that year. However, Bijan Robinson‘s 2023 arrival slowed the Patterson-at-RB experiment; he logged 50 carries last season.
Patterson, who turned 33 earlier this month, does not appear to have a clear path to a running back role in Pittsburgh. The team has Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren on rookie contracts. That said, Smith coached the veteran playmaker for three seasons; gadget plays could certainly be in the offing. Though, the Steelers will obviously be set to put Patterson to work on special teams.
Overall, the Tennessee alum has six All-Pro honors (two second-team nods) on his resume. Earning first-team acclaim in 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2020, Patterson has returned a kickoff for a score in seven separate seasons. Only one such jaunt came in Atlanta — as the others occurred while Patterson was with the Vikings, Patriots and Bears — but that 2022 TD broke Josh Cribbs and Leon Washington‘s NFL record. The extended production earned the 220-pound talent an All-Decade honor. He will soon get to work for a fifth NFL team.
Another tremendous addition. The guy runs hard. And again, I hope they’re not done yet
Don’t understand this signing other than him knowing Smith’s system. The return game is pretty much nonexistent around the league at this point.
Unless they have an idea the new rules will allow him to be a weapon again.
And so the Arthur Smith has officially begun in Pittsburgh I see!… I’m pretty sure Patterson was Arthur Smiths first free agent signing or close to it an Atl too lol
Understand the signing because they announced the new rules this morning, thus the signing.
At the very least he should be a guy that takes up 1 roster spot instead of 2-3. Should be RB3, WR5, KR, PR, and maybe gunner as well
He’s always been viewed as the NFL version of a Swiss Army knife. His best days might be behind him now though.
he doesn’t return punts, and he’s not a gunner, he is strictly a KR as far as special teams goes
third string running back, 4th WR, KR and PR.
He’s a gadget. 3rd string RB can run routes block return kicks and punts and be a solid decoy for Pickens and Austin to get open
Arthur Smith does love his decoys.
Pretty much the whole team in ATL was decoys or blockers.
Especially in the red zone lmao
Last year was bad. This signing makes them do a 180 turn as the new rules set in place.
I wouldn’t even count him as a wide receiver even though he was a first round pick as one. Darrius Heyward-Bey was more useful to the Steelers as a receiver, and he was mainly signed for special teams as well. He’s great as a kick returner though, and can probably still be useful as a running back. Kudos to Bill Belichick for being inventive enough to try him there.
This comment makes all the sense and then none at all simultaneously