Should Vikings have interest in Cordarrelle Patterson or Christian Wilkins?

Patterson, 34, will now look for a new home for his 13th NFL season. Should the Vikings have any interest in potentially bringing him back to where his career began?

It would certainly be a fun story if Patterson were to come back to Minnesota on a one-year deal. He was the 29th overall pick in 2013, finished third in offensive rookie of the year voting, and made three All-Pro teams as a kick returner across four seasons with the Vikings. Patterson has a strong case to be considered the greatest kick returner in NFL history, as he holds the all-time record with nine kickoff return touchdowns (five of which came in a Vikings uniform).

The question is how much juice Patterson has left in the tank at 34. He returned 11 kickoffs last season for the Steelers and averaged 21.8 yards on those plays, which was dead last among the 33 players with at least ten returns. His average was similar on seven returns in 2023, which was his final year with the Falcons.

The Vikings got very little out of the kick return game last season. They only had 14 returns all year — eight of those from Ty Chandler — and none went for more than 35 yards. But this season, the kickoff return is expected to be a bigger part of the game, given that touchbacks will now placed at the 35-yard-line instead of the 30.

In theory, Patterson could add competition for Chandler as a kick returner and also as a depth option at running back, where he had a couple strong seasons with the Falcons in 2021 and '22. He's a versatile player who has lined up at RB and wide receiver over the course of his 12-year career, in addition to his prolific kick returning.

With that said, a Minnesota return seems unlikely. Patterson may not have much left in the tank at his age, and the Vikings already have a few in-house options who could return kicks in 2025.