Raiders to trade Patterson to Pats
The Raiders are trading one of the league’s best kick returners, Cordarrelle Patterson, to the New England Patriots, per multiple reports. The Pardon My Take podcast first reported the news Sunday afternoon.
Patterson figured to be Oakland’s No. 4 wide receiver behind Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson and Seth Roberts next season. He was the Raiders’ top kick returner, averaging 28.3 yards per return on 19 returns in 2017, including a long return of 49 yards. Oakland saves $3.25 million in cap space with the move.
NFL Network reported the Raiders are swapping one of their sixth-round picks for a Patriots fifthround pick along with dealing Patterson. Oakland now owns five picks in the sixth round of April’s draft. The Raiders were reported to be interested in wide receiver Ryan Grant, who failed a physical with the Baltimore Ravens earlier in the week after being dealt from Washington. He could fill Patterson’s spot on Oakland’s roster.
Patterson caught 31 passes for 309 yards last season and rushed 13 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Former Oakland offensive coordinator Todd Downing used Patterson in various ways last season as one of the team’s most dynamic offensive threats. Now the Raiders are tasked with replacing him in Year 1 under Jon Gruden.
The Raiders have been quite active in free agency, acquiring a bevy of players on offense, defense and special teams. This latest move, though, is Oakland’s first trade of the offseason.
Patterson is one of the most accomplished kickoff returners in the game. His career average of 30.2 yards per return ranks second alltime to Hall of Famer Gale Sayers’ 30.6 mark.
Patterson spent one year in Oakland after playing four seasons in Minnesota. The Vikings originally acquired Patterson with the 29th pick in the 2013 draft after trading up with the Patriots.
The Raiders had the best average starting field position after kickoffs last season in the NFL, while the Patriots ranked fourth. STEELERS >> Pittsburgh signed inside linebacker Jon Bostic to a two-year contract.
Details of the deal were not disclosed and it will not be finalized until after Bostic undergoes a physical on Monday.
The 26-year-old Bostic played 14 games for Indianapolis last season, getting 97 tackles and one sack. Bostic injured his right knee against Denver in December and finished the season on injured reserve. Pittsburgh is Bostic’s fifth stop.
Bostic began his career with Chicago after being taken in the second round of the 2013 draft. He played two seasons in Chicago then one in New England before the Patriots traded him to Detroit in 2016. He missed the entire season in Detroit with a foot injury before joining the Colts.
The Steelers are in need of depth at inside linebacker with Ryan Shazier already ruled out for 2018 because of a spinal injury suffered in Cincinnati in December.
JETS >> Teddy Bridgewater is getting a fresh start in a new place that suddenly has a crowded quarterbacks room — and could be adding another signal caller soon.
New York signed the former Minnesota Vikings star to a one-year contract, making the deal official Sunday.
Bridgewater’s signing comes a day after the Jets traded up to acquire the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft from the Colts — likely with the intention of assuring themselves of getting one of the top available quarterbacks. New York dealt its first-rounder — No. 6 overall — along with two second-rounders and next year’s second-rounder for Indianapolis’ top pick this year.
The Jets have re-signed Josh McCown , who will likely head into the offseason programs as the starting quarterback, but both he and Bridgewater are on one-year deals.
New York also announced the signings of former Titans linebacker Avery Williamson and former Washington center Spencer Long, along with the re-signings of cornerback Morris Claiborne, defensive lineman Mike Pennel and safety Terrence Brooks.