The Patriots have apparently made a trade.
According to multiple reports, the Patriots have acquired wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson in a trade with the Raiders. The deal was first reported by Pardon My Take. NFL Media's Ian Rapoport adds the deal is Patterson and a sixth-round pick for the Patriots' fifth-round pick. (Oakland has two sixth-round picks and it's not known which one the Patriots will get.)
The 27-year-old spent his first four years in the league with the Vikings before spending last year in Oakland. He's struggled to make an impact as a receiver, but has excelled on special teams by using his speed. He's even lined up in the backfield on some plays.
Patterson was selected No. 29 overall in the 2013 draft, which was where the Patriots were picking, but they traded the pick to Minnesota.
Last year he finished with 31 catches for 309 yards, while averaging 28.3 yards per kick return. The Patriots need a kick returner now that Dion Lewis has moved on to Tennessee. They also need a punt returner, but Patterson has returned only one in his career.
The Patriots now have a receiving depth chart of Julian Edelman, Brandon Cooks, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, Phillip Dorsett, Kenny Britt and Patterson. Cooks, Dorsett and Patterson are all speedsters who stretch the field.
It's unlikely all of these players can be carried on the 53-man roster, so something will happen before training camp, or a few will be released over the summer.
