Raiders nab WR Cordarrelle Patterson

The Oakland Raiders have signed former Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson.

The Oakland Raiders and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson are going to make a nice fit for each other.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Raiders have nabbed a receiver who is on the up-and-up in the WR ranks. Patterson was a man that was making great strides early in his career in Minnesota, but then came Norv Turner, and he had a hard time adjusting to his offensive system.

But when the Vikings went to a short passing attack thanks to a weak offensive line, Patterson showed flashes of his game.

He caught 52 passes (a career-high) for 452 yards, reaching the end zone twice. While he is beginning to be known as a nice receiver, Patterson has long been known as a force to be reckoned with in the kick return game.

He led the NFL in return average last season, the third time in four years he has achieved that honor, which finally earned him All-Pro honors last season.

Patterson should be a natural for the offense the Raiders employ. His skills as a quick catch receiver should bold well with Derrick Carr and an offense that continues to grow into one of the league’s best units.

So now that Patterson is in Las Vega…. we mean Oakland, will Patterson develop into a top receiver?

That question remains to be answered, but he should easily continue his prowess as a kick-returner, and that’s where he will help the Raiders the most. His kick returning skills should bolster a special teams unit that was in the middle of the pack last season, and, if he can figure out the trick-of-the-trade of running routes in the NFL, then he may be one of the steals of free agency.

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What we’re trying to say is that the Raiders made a very smart move in getting Patterson away from icy Minnesota.