Former Minnesota Vikings first-round pick Cordarrelle Patterson is interested in returning to his old team for the 2021 season.
Last season, the Minnesota Vikings special teams really could not have been much worse. Just about every part of the unit had a performance to forget in 2020.
The Vikings missed way too many kicks, it felt like they couldn’t return a punt or a kickoff for more than five yards, and their return coverage decided to forget how to tackle during some very inconvenient moments.
Minnesota has already taken some steps to improve the unit, including firing special teams coach Marwan Maalouf and releasing kicker Dan Bailey. But the Vikings still have plenty of work to do if they want their special teams to no longer be among the worst in the NFL.
Cordarrelle Patterson wants the Minnesota Vikings to give him a call
Back in 2013, Minnesota had a total of three selections in the first round of the NFL Draft. With their final first-round pick, they went with former Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson.
As a returner and a receiver, Patterson wound up lasting four seasons with the Vikings before hitting the free-agent market in 2017. Since departing from Minnesota, the dynamic return-man has suited up for the Las Vegas Raiders (when they were in Oakland), New England Patriots, and Chicago Bears.
Patterson is a free agent again this year and he is still looking for a team to give him a job for next season. With the Vikings’ struggles in the return-game last year, some have wondered if they should consider bringing their former first-round pick back for the 2021 campaign.
On Twitter, Minnesota fans have been expressing their desire for Patterson to re-join the purple and gold. Recently, he responded to a fan’s tweet and told the Vikings to give him a call.
Patterson, who also revealed recently that the Bears haven’t contacted him about coming back this year, would be a great addition to Minnesota’s special teams.
During his time in the league, he has developed into one of the best returners to ever step on an NFL field. Since beginning his pro career in 2013, Patterson has returned eight kicks for touchdowns and his career kick return average is the best-ever in the history of the league for players that have returned at least 100 kicks.
In addition to his impressive return skills, Patterson could potentially take over the role as the Vikings No. 3 or No. 4 receiver in 2021. Minnesota’s offensive scheme typically doesn’t ask much from their third receivers, so it’s not like they would need him to become an important part of their game plan each week.
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If the price is right, bringing back Patterson for his second stint in the Twin Cities could be something that benefits the Vikings greatly.