There were many rational reasons for Cordarrelle Patterson to sign with the Steelers, and those reasons mutually benefit the offense and special-teams fronts.
He's your favorite specialist's favorite specialist. He's carved out an 11-year career of elite play-making skills that have extended as a wide receiver and running back, but he's always been the elite among the elite as a special teamer. He is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and six-time All-Pro selection with four first-team nods, all for his services on special teams. He will surely benefit the Steelers' efforts in navigating the NFL's new kickoff rule, but he also brings the familiarity with Arthur Smith's offense from his time in Atlanta.
As Patterson said after the final day of the Steelers' OTAs on the South Side Thursday, he is up for what ever Smith and the Steelers need.
"It's something I know," Patterson said of Smith's offense. "I've been in it for three years, going on four years now, so of course when Arthur talked to me this offseason about joining, it was a no-brainer for me, man. I'm glad to be here, I'm excited, and what ever I need to do to help this team win games, I'm coming to help how ever I can. ... What ever he needs. Running back, kick return, tight end, right tackle, I can play it all. What ever he needs me to do."
Patterson was a wide receiver in his time in Minnesota, Oakland, New England and Chicago but converted to running back when he arrived to Atlanta in 2021. The Falcons utilized him greatly in 2021 -- Smith's first year as head coach -- and Patterson amassed 1,166 yards from scrimmage (618 rushing) and scored 11 total touchdowns. His role changed in 2022 as he ceded touches to fifth-round pick Tyler Allgeier, who rushed for 1,035 yards in his first season. Patterson still posted 817 yards from scrimmage, but it was clear the Falcons had a different vision for the position beyond Patterson.
That became completely clear by the 2023 draft as the Falcons selected Bijan Robinson with the eighth overall pick. Patterson was not totally phased out of the running game, but he touched the ball just 59 times in 2023 compared to his 205 touches in 2021 and 165 touches in 2022.
Nonetheless, Patterson is expected to have a role in some capacity for Smith with the Steelers, even with Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and George Pickens, among others, at his disposal. Patterson quipped that he goes "everywhere" in the team's meetings, including inside of the quarterbacks room on occasion.
"Arthur knows me," Patterson said. "He knows me from up to down. He knows what I can and can't do, so I know he's going to take advantage of that this year. I'm excited for it. I'm not coming in here to step on anybody's toes. I know my role and I know what I can bring to this team. What ever I can do, I'm that guy. If they need me not until Week 8, I'm here. I'm here to help these guys to get going."
And Warren is certainly happy to have Patterson's presence and play-making ability as a part of the offense.
"As far as the offense I'm sure we can put him anywhere and he does his thing," Warren said.
Patterson's career has been hallmarked by his ability as a kick returner, and that is where he will in all likelihood make his biggest splash as a Steeler. He has returned nine kicks for touchdowns in his career, and he led the NFL in kick return yards in 2019 and 2020 with the Bears.
The NFL's new kickoff rule essentially eliminates running starts for the kickoff teams, and every team is learning their way of how they are going to navigate through this change. Last week, Miles Killebrew said that the kickoffs are "actually going to be a play now," as opposed to the league seeing the influx of touchbacks like it experienced in 2023. Patterson is excited about what the new rule can bring to special teams.
"It can work in everybody's favor, but with this unit we've got, we've got to take advantage of this season," Patterson said. "It's going to be new to everybody this year, so we've just got to figure it out and try to get a head-start on everybody. ... As soon as the rule (change) happened it was exciting for me. It's going to be different, very different, but we've been planning it for a while so hopefully we get a jump-start on it and be ready for it."
Perhaps coincidentally, the NFL passed the new kickoff rule March 26, and Patterson signed a two-year contract with the Steelers April 1.
"I don't know," Patterson said after giving a laugh at that fact. "I got that phone call and I already knew what time it was. I'm excited to be here and I'm ready to show the world what I can do."
The Steelers added a few of Smith's former players this offseason. Alongside Patterson are former Falcons receivers Van Jefferson and Scotty Miller and tight end MyCole Pruitt. Jefferson played in 12 games with Atlanta after being acquired from the Rams midseason in 2023, Miller played the full 2023 season for Smith in Atlanta and Pruitt has been with Smith in all-but one season since 2018 between Smith's stints as the Titans' offensive coordinator and the Falcons' head coach.
Patterson maintains that, as a group, the players who followed Smith understand what they are here for.
"We're there to help those guys," Patterson said. "We're not coming in here trying to replace nobody, take nobody's spot. We all know our roles, so we've got to go out and know our roles and embrace it. Some guys only get so many opportunities and maybe this was our only opportunity. We came here and we're excited for it."
