Steelers A to Z: Cordarrelle Patterson is one of the best kickoff returners of all time

Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2024 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 14 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

KR/RB CORDARRELLE PATTERSON

Experience/age: 12th season, 33

Contract status: $2.25 million cap hit in 2024, signed through 2025

The past: Patterson, quite simply, is one of the greatest kickoff returners in NFL history. He has nine for touchdowns, the most of any player. He’s had at least one such score in seven of his 10 seasons. During six of the seven seasons in which he’s had at least 20 kick return attempts, Patterson has at least one for a touchdown.

At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, Patterson was drafted in the first round in 2013 by the Minnesota Vikings … as a wide receiver. In that role over his first five NFL seasons, Patterson found mere moderate production, having four seasons of at least 30 catches and 300 yards with seven overall touchdowns. But during a lone season in which he played for the New England Patriots (and won a Super Bowl) in 2018, Patterson’s role on offense began to morph into more of a running back. And by 2021 and 2022 under then-Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, Patterson averaged more than 600 rushing yards per season and totaled 14 rushing touchdowns. Patterson’s usage on offense, though, did decrease significantly last season.

???????????????????????????????? ????????, ????????????????

Cordarelle Patterson returns his 8th kickoff for TD, T-most in NFL history! @ceeflashpee84 pic.twitter.com/43OGDUsMCz

— This Day in Chicago Sports (@ChiSportsDay) November 16, 2021

2024 outlook: With Smith hired as Steelers offensive coordinator soon after their season ended, Patterson signed a two-year, $6 million pact with the team in March. The timing of word of the deal came within hours of the NFL announcing that it was adopting an XFL-style kickoff for the upcoming season, a move intended to dramatically increase returns. This, of course, would figure to add tremendous value to a player such as Patterson. Even with Patterson coming off career lows in return opportunities (seven) and average (21.9 yards), he surely enters camp firmly atop the depth chart at kick returner for the Steelers. Only time will tell how the new rules affect play and if Patterson can thrive in them. Patterson’s size would seem to lend itself to the new rules – but his advancing age must be a question.

Offensively, it will be interesting to see how much – if any – Patterson is part of the game plan. According to Pro Football Focus, during his limited deployment last season, Patterson lined up more often as a receiver (86 snaps – 55 wide and 31 in the slot) then he did at running back (85 snaps). The season before in Atlanta with Smith calling the plays, Patterson was significantly more likely to line up in the backfield.

The Steelers have two established running backs in Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, and four tight ends who will be jockeying for playing time. Though their receiving corps is thin, Patterson at this stage of his career probably doesn’t project as a heavy-usage wide receiver.