Oakland Raiders Finally Got One by Signing Cordarrelle Patterson to a 2-Year Deal

Oakland Raiders finally got one by signing Cordarrelle Patterson to a 2-year deal

We’re closing in on the first full week of free agency, and the Oakland Raiders have been largely quiet about the prospects available. Raider Nation has been up in arms since Thursday, with the lack of any substantial movement from the Oakland front office. There has been just one free agent signed in Marshall Newhouse, an offensive lineman from New York, and not a superstar by any means (yet). The signing of Cordarrelle Patterson will satisfy some of that frustration and give Raiders fans new hope for rejuvenation in the 2017 season. It will improve the mood of Raider Nation and renew their faith in General Manager Reggie McKenzie. In Reggie We Trust.

The Raiders woke up today and signed a two-year deal with Patterson, according to a report from ESPN. Coming off of his fourth year with the Minnesota Vikings, he had ups and downs in Norv Turner’s offensive scheme. Even so, he put up strong numbers and Raiders fans are optimistic that he will excel under Coach Jack Del Rio and the young, up and coming Raiders squad.

Get to Know Your Newest Raider

Cordarrelle Patterson has been named first team All-Pro twice and nominated to the Pro Bowl twice in his four years in the league, as well as second team All-Pro once. He led the league in average kick return yardage with 31.7 yards per return last season. On top of receiving and kick returns, he has significant rushing yards sporting 10.7 yards per carry.

How He Fits In

With the impending loss of Andre Holmes, who’s likely to sign elsewhere this offseason, the team can rest a little easier now that McKenzie has signed their new receiver. Patterson will be able to handle some of the load carried by Jalen Richard, an undrafted free agent who walked onto the team last year and showed from day one that he’s superstar material. Richard was integral in the Raiders return game in 2016 and 2017 will see more of the same from him. With a strong returner like Cordarrelle Patterson, rest assured the team will be more balanced and sustainable. Depth at that position means that the Raiders again have a trio of receivers. Could they be this season’s best WR trio in the league? It’s more likely now.

The Raiders are also preparing themselves for the loss of Latavius Murray, unless they can present a deal to him. If they’re uninterested in doing so, an alternative is sorely needed. The three-headed monster may rise again if the coaching staff can insert Patterson as a third-down back in addition to his other skills. He’s much more sizeable than the two guaranteed runners that the Raiders have on staff, so he can offer another blocking option as well.

Oakland is a team that’s poised to be the best

The addition of a solid receiver and kick returner will elevate Oakland’s offense even further.  Even if he doesn’t look spectacular on paper, Patterson will get better behind Derek Carr and the Oakland offensive line. Carr and the O-Line don’t just do their jobs, they do a spectacular job. They make decent receivers good, good receivers great and great receivers elite. Derek Carr can pass to a tackling dummy and get it 200 yards in a season, especially if said dummy had some blocking from Rodney Hudson and the all-star o-line. Having a new weapon means that Carr can spread the love around the field and keep defenders on their toes even more than Coop and Crabs already do. Patterson will fit in and he’s already comfortable in Silver & Black. So welcome to the club, Cordarrelle, we’re excited for that first jump into the Black Hole!

http://www.raiders.com/news/article-1/Raiders-Sign-Cordarrelle-Patterson/ba7b54cb-1d00-4da1-aa5e-8e1f148550f9