Cordarrelle Patterson is joining the Pittsburgh Steelers on a two-year deal.
Over the past few weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been among the busiest teams in the NFL.
To address their problems at quarterback, they have already added two well-known players, and at linebacker, they have added an All-Pro from the previous campaign.
They also parted ways with a former Pro Bowl wide out and starting quarterback.
They made a couple more transactions on March 25 in an effort to further assemble their roster. They signed defensive end Dean Lowry, quarterback Kyle Allen, and wide receiver Quez Watkins.
They have since added a second veteran through free agency.
The Steelers are bringing in former Atlanta Falcons RB/WR Cordarrelle Patterson on a two-year deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Patterson’s Flexibility on Show for the Falcons
In 2013, Patterson was selected as a wide receiver late in the first round.
He never quite worked out at the position, which is unfortunate, but in his NFL career, he has demonstrated a wide range of other talents.
During his three years with the Falcons, he demonstrated all of those talents.
Being a running back, a position he hadn’t played much in the NFL before, was his largest contribution in Atlanta.
In his debut season in Atlanta, he succeeded Mike Davis as the team’s primary quarterback, going on to rush for 618 yards and six touchdowns. For 548 yards and five touchdowns, Patterson also caught 52 passes.
Moreover, he brought back 18 kicks for 434 yards.
His most fruitful season to date was the one.
Next season, he was the team’s starting running back. Despite having to share the backfield with Tyler Allgeier, Patterson had a respectable season. He scored eight touchdowns and rushed for a career-high 695 yards.
In addition, he recorded nine kick returns for 284 yards and a score.
After they selected Bijan Robinson in the draft this past season, he was largely sidelined in the offense, but he continued to play a part in the return game.
He will now be back with his former head coach in Atlanta, Arthur Smith, and the Steelers may be able to utilize his versatility once more.
His Suitability for the Steelers
In 2023, the Steelers’ kick returners produced some excellent work.
They averaged 23.5 yards per return as a team, although George Pickens is the only member of the club who returned a kick for them in 2023. In 2024, they won’t want him to assume the danger of harm from returning kicks.
Additionally, their returners weren’t nearly as effective as Patterson has been during his career. Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot noted that Patterson holds the record for the most kickoff return touchdowns in a career and is third all-time in yards per kick return after the Steelers announced the acquisition.
Due to his skill as a kick returner, he has also been selected to the All-Pro team six times.
Given the significant changes to kickoffs in the NFL, that ought to be his main contribution in Pittsburgh, while he might also have an impact on the offense.
Given his history with Smith, it’s possible that he’ll be given some offensive touches.
He was in the same situation for the Falcons last season as the third running back on the Steelers’ depth chart. For them, he had fifty carries.
Additionally, Patterson might be utilized in passing plays. Before the offseason ends, the Steelers are anticipated to look for a WR2, but after Pickens, they currently have a number of comparable choices.
Even if it won’t be a major role, Patterson might compete alongside Watkins, Van Jefferson, and Calvin Austin to carve out a place for himself in the passing game.
Although Patterson isn’t a household name, his addition to the Steelers roster unquestionably boosts it, much like the other additions they’ve made this week.
