Bill Belichick has no regrets over trading Cordarrelle Patterson pick
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick doesn't regret trading away the 2013 first-round pick that the Minnesota Vikings used to select Cordarrelle Patterson, Belichick said on a conference call Wednesday.
The Vikings sent their second-round, third-round and fourth-round picks, as well as a seventh-rounder, to New England for the No. 29 pick, which Minnesota intended to use to draft Patterson.
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“We made the decision based on what we felt was best for our team,” Belichick said. “That’s what we always do. We felt like at that time it would be the best thing for our team, and that’s what we did.”
The Patriots used the draft picks to select linebacker Jamie Collins, cornerback Logan Ryan and wide receiver Josh Boyce. The seventh-rounder was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for running back LeGarrette Blount.
Patterson, 23, was first-team All-Pro at kick returner as a rookie last season after returning two kicks for touchdowns and averaging 32.4 yards per kick return. In last week's season opener against the Rams, Patterson became the first receiver in NFL history to record a rushing touchdown of 35-plus yards in three straight games.
The Vikings host the Patriots on Sunday in Week 2.
- Ben Estes
