5 former Vikings players who could return for the 2022 season
By Nik Edlund
Cordarrelle Patterson – WR/RB
2021 Team: Atlanta Falcons
Not sure there is a true Vikings fan out there who wouldn’t want to see Cordarrelle Patterson return to the team. The guy is a versatile and electric weapon who can play receiver, running back, and be a dynamite returner.
Patterson was criminally underused during his time in Minnesota. He, like many others, didn’t hit it off with Mike Zimmer and for whatever reason, players like Charles Johnson were seeing more targets. Patterson’s versatility should’ve been used in a Percy Harvin-like fashion, creating mismatches and confusion for Vikings’ opponents. Instead, he was used sparingly and pretty much if Zimmer didn’t have any other options left.
After leaving Minnesota, Patterson has traveled the country far and wide. He’s spent time with the Raiders, Patriots, Bears, and is coming off the best season of his career with the Falcons. Patterson has proven to be a tough runner and still has great speed, and now a veteran understanding of the game and what opponents are trying to do.
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Patterson would be a fun piece for a creative mind like Kevin O’Connell to utilize in his offense. He surely would get the most out of him and there could be plenty of big-play opportunities as teams pay more attention to Justin Jefferson. It’s unlikely to happen, but if the price was right, Patterson coming back to where it all started isn’t completely out of the realm of possibility.