Tennessee football: 4 former Vols who were NFL Draft steals this decade

2 of 5

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 03: Cordarrelle Patterson #84 of the New England Patriots carries the ball against Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams in the second quarter during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

No.4 – Cordarrelle Patterson

2013 NFL Draft: Round 1 – Pick 29

Coming in at number four on our rankings is wide receiver and return man, Cordarrelle Patterson. Patterson was the headliner from one of the best drafts for former Tennessee Vols in recent years.

In just twelve games with Tennessee, Patterson accounted for 778 receiving yards on 46 receptions with five touchdowns. He was also effective in the running game accounting for 308 rushing yards with three addition touchdowns.

The Minnesota Vikings drafted Patterson with the 29th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. As a rookie, the 6-foot-2 wideout finished with 45 receptions for 469 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

Patterson is now a Super Bowl Champ after helping New England win 13-3 over the Los Angeles Rams back in February. Despite being a non-factor in the game with just two receptions for 14 receiving yards and two rushes for only seven yards, Patterson did have a productive season.

In 15 games with the Pats, Patterson accounted for 21 receptions for 247 yards with three touchdowns. He also rushed for 228 yards with one touchdown.

It’s hard to consider a player drafted in the first round as a steal, but Patterson fits that narrative.

Home/Vols Football