Cordarrelle Patterson, Oakland Raiders Agree to 2-Year Contract

Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson signed with the Oakland Raiders on Monday, the club announced.

Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle first reported on the deal, with Ben Goessling of ESPN adding it's a two-year contract that can be voided after one year.

Tom Pelissero of USA Today added that the first year of the deal is worth $5.25 million with $5 million guaranteed.

Patterson, 25, has never quite lived up to being the No. 29 selection overall in the 2013 NFL draft. In 2016, he caught 52 passes for 453 yards and two touchdowns, adding a kick-return touchdown as well. While he has flashed explosive, game-breaking ability at times, he hasn't consistently produced throughout his career.

For Patterson, leaving Minnesota was likely indicative of one factor: a lack of playing time.

"Two years I spent damn near on the sideline," Patterson said in late January, per Conor Orr of NFL.com. "That's never a good feeling for any player. No player wants to go through that. I need to know if I'm going to play or not. If not, I'll take my talents elsewhere."

Certainly, signing Patterson means Oakland will be expected to utilize him and get the most of his unique skill set. The wideout is dangerous enough with the ball that the Raiders would be wise to give him a large collection of short catches, screens and even carries.

And he remains one of the best returners in football as well.

The Vikings never quite cracked the code with Patterson, though Pat Shurmur utilized him more heavily late in the 2016 season after he took over as offensive coordinator. The Raiders would be wise to do the same.

Certainly, the addition of Patterson gives Oakland an explosive trio at wideout, as he'll pair with Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper. Much like Crabtree has taken his game to another level since joining the Raiders, Patterson will have the chance to finally live up to the hype that made him a first-round pick in 2013.

In Oakland, he'll have the chance to play with Derek Carr, the best quarterback he'll have worked with in the NFL. Don't be surprised if Patterson takes a step forward in 2017 and makes a major impact for the Raiders, both on special teams and in the passing game.