A multi-time All-Pro return specialist leaving the Chicago Bears in free agency and signing with the Atlanta Falcons? That sounds familiar...
Of course, the first instance I'm referring to here is when Devin Hester agreed to a deal with the Falcons in 2014 free agency after an illustrious career with the Bears. This time around, a similarly tantalizing talent will join the Falcons for the 2021 season after spending the last two years up in the Windy City.
According to a report from Mike Garafolo, four-time All-Pro return specialist and overall Swiss army knife Cordarrelle Patterson is headed down to Atlanta on a one-year deal.
The 2020 season was one of those four All-Pro campaigns for Patterson, who recorded 132 receiving yards on 21 receptions, 232 rushing yards on 64 carries, and, most importantly, a league-high 1,017 kick return yards on 35 returns. It was the second consecutive season in which he had led the league in return yards, and he came in second in yards per return, a category in which he's the active leader (29.8).
Patterson tweeted on Wednesday saying that he'd miss Chicago, though we did not yet know where he'd ultimately end up signing at that time. Some of his former teammates responded, and when Tarik Cohen responded with a broken heart emoji, Patterson said that his "peoples" were to blame.
Under new head coach Arthur Smith, the Falcons will hope to use Patterson's versatility and experience to their advantage, hopefully helping not only in the return department but in the running game as well. Atlanta ranked second-to-last in yards per carry last season (3.7) and was in the bottom-ten teams the year before.
Patterson, 30, is entering his ninth season. He had previously spent time with the Vikings, Raiders and Patriots prior to his most recent stint in Chicago.
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