Following an astounding season in which he became a full-time running back, Cordarrelle Patterson is set to become a free agent. Will he re-sign with the Atlanta Falcons, or are there more attractive landing spots?
Top predictions for free agent Cordarrelle Patterson
Deebo Samuel gets all the love as the NFL’s premier “wide back,” but Patterson was doing it before it was cool. It started in 2018 when the Patriots used Patterson as a running back and gave him 42 carries. In 2020, Patterson’s second season with the Bears, he handled 64 totes.
But it all came together in 2021, as Patterson fully became an RB with the Falcons. He lined up in the backfield nearly 300 times, managing 153 carries for 618 yards and 6 touchdowns. The 30-year-old also tied his career-high in receptions (52) while setting a new career mark in receiving yards (548).
Things were perhaps not as rosy as they may seem, however. Patterson faded down the stretch. He failed to manage more than 9 carries in any of his last three games, and he averaged fewer than 4 yards per carry over his final five. Patterson also stopped factoring into Atlanta’s passing game, as he managed only 7 total targets from Weeks 14-17.
After playing on a one-year, $3 million contract in 2021, Patterson is likely due for a small bump. He could reach the $5 million range, though it’s fair to question how much any team will be willing to pay an aging hybrid player.
Patterson’s best landing spots
Which team will take a chance on Patterson in 2022? Here are a few ideas.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs used their 2020 first-round pick on running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire with the hope he’d be the finishing touch on their already-elite offense. That hasn’t happened. Through two seasons, CEH has alternated between ineffectiveness and injury. Now, with both Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon scheduled to hit free agency, Kansas City needs to add more RB depth.
CEH was billed as a pass-catching threat after recording 55 receptions in his final seasons at LSU, but it’s taken him two years to match that total in the NFL. The Falcons stopped using Patterson as a receiver down the stretch, but that doesn’t mean he’s no longer useful in the passing game. As a former wideout, Patterson would allow Andy Reid to get even more creative with his play-calling.
New York Giants
Speaking at the Combine, new Giants general manager Joe Schoen sounded open to trading Saquon Barkley. If New York deals the former second overall pick, Patterson would make sense as a replacement. But even if the Giants keep Barkley, Patterson would fit in nicely as a complementary piece.
New York already cut backup Devontae Booker, and given Barkley’s continuous health questions, they need to add a reliable No. 2 option. Even when Barkley was available last season, he looked slow and sluggish, nowhere near the outstanding athlete he was at Penn State or early in his NFL career. Patterson could offer a change of pace and help reduce Barkley’s usage.
Plus, the Giants fielded one of the league’s worst kick return units in 2021. Patterson wasn’t Atlanta’s primary returner last year, but that’s only because he had so much responsibility on offense. He’s still one of the greatest kick returners of all time, and he’d give New York a boost on special teams.
Arizona Cardinals
Both of the Cardinals’ top running backs — James Conner and Chase Edmonds — are pending free agents. While Arizona would surely love to re-sign both, Patterson would be a solid backup plan if they can only bring back one.
It’s not only Conner and Edmonds that are hitting the market — receivers Christian Kirk and A.J. Green are FAs, as well. Depending on what the Cardinals do in free agency, Patterson could be a chess piece for Kliff Kingsbury. Arizona likes to run spread formations, so Patterson would fit in as a player capable of aligning in multiple spots. He could be put in motion before the snap, giving Kyler Murray the ability to diagnose the opposing coverage.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers could use a backup to Austin Ekeler, and — depending on the development of 2021 third-rounder Josh Palmer — they could also upgrade their No. 3 WR. Given that LA will need to dump a lot of its resources into improving their porous defense, why not add an offensive player in Patterson who can help out both the passing attack and run game?
While the Chargers’ cap space took a hit when the club acquired Khalil Mack from the Bears, they still have roughly $21 million available (more than any other team on this list). If they want to bring in Patterson, they’ll be able to afford him. Plus, like the Giants, LA’s special teams have been a disaster for what seems like forever. Ace kick returner Andre Roberts is a free agent, so Patterson could take over that role, too.
