UPDATE (3:42pm PT on Monday): The Raiders announced that they have traded WR Cordarrelle Patterson to the Patriots for a fifth-round pick (No. 159 overall). The Raiders will send a compensatory sixth-round pick (No. 210 overall) to the Patriots.
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The Raiders are trading receiver/kickoff returner Cordarrelle Patterson to the New England Patriots, a league source told NBC Sports Bay Area on Sunday afternoon.
The Raiders will receive a fifth-round pick, while sending a sixth-round pick back to New England, according to the NFL Network. Patterson must pass a physical to complete the transaction, NFL Network is also reporting.
The moved frees $3.25 million in salary cap space for a Raiders team that was up against the NFL spending threshold. Former Washington receiver Ryan Grant is reportedly visiting the Raiders' Alameda complex soon. Grant is available after a failed physical voided his free-agent deal with Baltimore. He passed a physical in Indianapolis, NFL Network reported, but left the Colts without a contract. Grant is a surehanded target who averaged 12.7 yards per receptions and had just three drops in 63 targets.
The Raiders will likely add another receiver if Grant doesn't come aboard. One of head coach Jon Gruden's preference could be found in the NFL draft if Grant goes elsewhere.
The Raiders also added receiver Griff Whalen, a Stanford alum who has some returning experience, before free agency began.
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Patterson proved a productive, explosive member of last year's offense, primarily as a gadget player. Patterson finished the season with 31 catches for 309 yards, and had 13 receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
He never became a steady, standard receiving option, and wasn't able to shed his reputation as a relatively poor route runner. That likely made him expendable in Gruden's eye. He needs quality routes and steady hands from his wideouts.
That outweighs Patterson's prowess returning kickoffs. The two-time All-Pro averages 30.2 yards per kickoff return over five seasons, with five return touchdowns to his credit.
The Patriots are well known for excellent special teams play, and needed a returner with Dion Lewis leaving for Tennessee in free agent. The Super Bowl runners up now have a dynamic returner and gunner to pair with solid coverage and return units.
This is a developing story. Check back for further details.
