Ranking the top ten Tennessee NFL Draft picks of the past decade

Ranking the top ten Tennessee NFL Draft picks of the past decade.

Dec 29, 2019; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) carries the ball during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5: Cordarrelle Patterson (WR)

Selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 29th pick (1st round) of the 2013 NFL Draft

Any Tennessee fan remembers Patterson’s electric highlight reel from his lone season in Knoxville in 2012. A wide receiver that largely made his impact in the return game, Patterson has proven to be electric with the ball in his hands in the NFL just as he was in college.

Although he has never eclipsed the 500-yard mark in a season at receiver, Patterson is a three-time Pro Bowler as a returner. Over a seven-year span with the Vikings, Raiders, Patriots and Bears, Patterson has returned seven kickoffs for touchdowns in his career, including an NFL-record 109-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in his rookie season.

Patterson was part of the Super Bowl LIII champion Patriots team in 2018, and is coming off another Pro Bowl season with the Chicago Bears in 2019.

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