Cordarrelle Patterson quickly became one of the Minnesota Vikings', and the NFL's, most exciting young playmakers after entering the league via the first-round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
In 16 games as an NFL neophyte, Patterson amassed 469 receiving yards, 158 rushing yards, 1,393 return yards and nine all-purpose touchdowns.
Last season though, Patterson failed to improve upon his stellar rookie year - posting lower numbers in every category despite again appearing in all 16 games - leaving Vikings fans and coaches scratching their heads and wondering what at just what went wrong for the former star-in-the-making.
While a down season does not a career make, just as a fantastic rookie season doesn't mean a player is bound for the Hall of Fame, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman have apparently seen enough of Patterson in two seasons to know that should a high-quality offer roll in, moving the young receiver while his value is still high may be the smartest play.
"Haven't heard a specific Patterson rumor today, but have heard before the #Vikings would think about moving him. Wouldn't shock me," tweeted ESPN's Ben Goessling.
Despite Patterson's failure to take over the main offensive role for the Vikings in the wake of Adrian Peterson's suspension last year, Zimmer and Spielman have reportedly been happy with the offseason work their talented wideout has been putting in this offseason.
"CP is working extremely hard right now," Spielman said at the NFL rookie combine, per FOX Sports. "He wants to be a good football player. He's a talented athlete, and he is a good football player, but we have to get him, put a plan in place for him. I believe he's going to do everything he can to make himself the best player he can be."
If Goessling's report is accurate, Patterson could potentially make himself into that player with another NFL organization.
Zimmer, meanwhile, revealed to Paul Allen of KFAN via FOX Sports that he notified Patterson of what he needs to do this offseason in order to regain the starting role with the Vikings he effectively lost to surprise standout Charles Johnson and steady veteran Greg Jennings by the end of the year.
"I communicated with (Patterson) once and gave him all the information of who he needs to contact," Zimmer told Allen. "That has (happened) and I found out recently that, on his own, he decided he wanted to do this other thing too, which I think is a good thing for him. So he's off doing that thing right now."
Still, Zimmer said for Patterson it's not so much about coaching as it is about attitude, about the mentality of being a professional football player. Perhaps it's that mentality - or lack thereof - that's pushing the Vikings to make the electrifying wideout available in trade.
Of course, a deal remains unlikely and the most logical outcome is that Patterson remains on the Minnesota roster with a fresh chance at nabbing a starting spot next season, but in this new NFL where player-for-player swaps are again a thing and established stars are seemingly being dumped daily, truly anything is possible.
