Completed: The Pittsburgh Steelers have confirmed the signing of a highly skilled player.
According to an AP source, the Steelers sign Cordarrelle Patterson to a two-year deal to improve their return game.
Experienced running back and kickoff return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson has signed to a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Experienced running back and kickoff return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson has signed to a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A source familiar with the terms of the agreement told the Associated Press that the contract has a total value of $6 million. The person spoke to the AP under the condition of anonymity because it had not been announced.
The versatile 33-year-old Patterson spent the past three seasons as a player with the Atlanta Falcons. The Steelers can benefit from the experience of four-time All-Pro Patterson as they adjust to the new kickoff regulations implemented by the league, which are intended to yield more returns.In his 11-year career, while playing for Minnesota, Oakland, New England, Chicago, and Atlanta, Patterson has returned nine kickoffs for touchdowns. Patterson has led the league in kickoff return average three times and has seven kickoff returns of 100 yards or more.
Patterson has played a variety of roles in his career. He was a kick returner and wide receiver for the Raiders, Vikings, and Patriots. In Atlanta and Chicago, he saw more play out of the backfield. In 2021 and 2022, Patterson gained over 600 yards of rushes; however, the previous season, the Falcons benched Patterson in favor of rookie Bijan Robinson.
The Steelers have been unable to find a game-changing player for their return game for years. Pittsburgh’s longest kickoff return from the previous season was barely 37 yards, and they averaged 23.5 yards per return by spreading the load across multiple players.
Through the trade, Patterson and Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator Arthur Smith—a former Falcons coach—are reunited. Patterson is not anticipated to be used in the running game by the Steelers. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren together form one of the NFL’s strongest one-two punches for Pittsburgh.
