Last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers inked a one-year contract with seasoned KB/RB Cordarrelle Patterson, and now the specifics of the agreement have come to light. As previously mentioned, the deal amounted to a total of $6 million.
According to records from the NFLPA database, Patterson’s contract includes a signing bonus of $1.9 million and base salaries of $1.3 million in 2024 and $2.3 million in 2025. This arrangement results in cap charges of $2.25 million for 2024 and $3.75 million for 2025.
Patterson’s compensation is weighted heavily toward the first year of the deal, with $3.2 million scheduled for 2024 and $2.8 million for 2025. This distribution is typical for a veteran player.
With Patterson’s entry into the Steelers’ Rules 51 and his cap charge, a player with a $915,000 salary is displaced. Consequently, the Steelers utilized $1.335 million of their available salary cap space to secure Patterson’s services.
In his NFL career thus far, Patterson, initially drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft out of Tennessee, has amassed 2,511 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns on 514 total carries. Additionally, he has made 298 regular receptions for 2,795 yards and 16 touchdowns. As a kick returner, Patterson has accumulated 273 returns for 7,989 yards and nine touchdowns, with one punt return for a yard.
The Steelers primarily brought Patterson on board for the 2024 season to bolster their kickoff returns and provide depth as an experienced backup running back behind Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. Patterson spent the last three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, where he played under the supervision of the new Steelers coordinator, Arthur Smith.