New England Patriots trade for Cordarrelle Patterson from Raiders

Bill Belichick has a need for speed, resulting in a trade for the Raiders kick returner

Oakland Raiders wide receiver and special teamer Cordarrelle Patterson has been traded to the New England Patriots, as first reported by Barstool Sports podcast “Pardon My Take.” Both Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter confirmed the trade early Sunday afternoon.

Rapoport says the Patriots will trade a fifth round pick to Oakland in exchange for Patterson and a sixth round pick in this years draft. New England’s fifth round draft pick has moved hands multiple times already after the Patriots acquired it from the Browns for Danny Shelton, who acquired the pick from Kansas City for Cameron Erving.

Oakland had six sixth round picks this offseason, four of which were compensatory draft picks. It’s unclear which of the six picks was moved to New England, who was without a pick in that round.

Here’s the full breakdown of the trade between the Patriots and Raiders:

Interestingly, the Raiders traded Patterson the day after his 27th birthday. The speedy swiss army knife was originally a first round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2013 and was an All-Rookie teamer with nine total touchdowns, two of which were kick returns.

Since his rookie season Patterson has just nine touchdowns, three of which came on special teams.

New England now has a plethora of speed with Patterson joining Brandin Cooks and Phillip Dorsett. Bill Belichick is a master of taking players who have struggled in recent years and reinventing them, including Dion Lewis, LeGarrette Blount, and Danny Amendola.

Patterson brings tremendous special teams experience to the Patriots, who had just one special teams touchdown last year, courtesy of Dion Lewis, who signed with Tennessee this offseason.

Next: New York Jets: Which QB Are They Aiming For?

Oakland could be in the market for a depth receiver or special teamer with the departure of Patterson. New head coach Jon Gruden signed Jordy Nelson in free agency to join Amari Cooper and Seth Roberts.