Should the Atlanta Falcons expect regression from Cordarrelle Patterson?

After eight years of bouncing around the league, Cordarrelle Patterson had a shocking breakout season and found a home with the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta locked Patterson up with a two-year team-friendly deal keeping the utility player in Atlanta.

Patterson finished the 2021 season with 618-rushing yards and 548-receiving yards with a combined 11-touchdowns scored. In an offense that often struggled he was one of the few consistent contributors. A player who stepped up and found a way to make something happen when the team needed him the most.

Looking ahead at next season and considering Patterson’s previous track record it is fair to wonder whether the team should expect regression? Signing a player after a career year is rarely the right move, Dante Fowler Jr. is a recent example of this approach.

However, Atlanta made the right move signing Patterson and shouldn’t expect any regression from the utility player. What makes Patterson different than other players coming off of career years is how he put the season together.

Cordarrelle has always been explosive and able to make huge plays throughout his career. His roles, however, were often limited to kick returning with very few touches on offense. The Falcons are the first team that truly gave Patterson a chance at being a huge part of the offensive game plan.

This is thanks in part to Arthur Smith’s creative approach on offense. One that perfectly fits Patterson’s skill set and will allow him to have continued success with the Falcons.

Any regression from Patterson will be due to the change at quarterback and not Patterson’s inability to find open space. His playstyle and talent make last season’s numbers sustainable.

Signing Patterson on a multi-year deal was the perfect move for a team that will likely be making a push to contend during the 2023 season. Patterson will continue to have success in Atlanta and give the team a fun player to watch in what should be a very long season.