Vikings decline option on WR Cordarrelle Patterson

Published 9:36 am Wednesday, May 4, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings have spent about a year sending gifted but flighty receiver and kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson messages that he needs to buckle down and come to training camp prepared to earn a spot.

They sent their loudest message yet on Monday.

The Vikings declined to pick up the fifth-year option on Patterson’s rookie contract, casting his future with the team into doubt.

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On the same day the Vikings exercised the options for defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd and cornerback Xavier Rhodes — the other two members of the Vikings first-round class in 2013 — the team preferred not to commit to the $7.9 million Patterson would have been due in 2017.

The Vikings also signed sixth-round draft choice Moritz Boehringer to his rookie deal, making him the first pick of the 2016 class to sign a contract. The team also announced the signing of 10 undrafted free agents, including two area prospects: Minnesota defensive end Theiren Cockran and Wisconsin quarterback Joel Stave.

Patterson was an All-Pro kick returner as a rookie and has continued to be a threat in that spot in his first three seasons in the league. But his development as a receiver has been much slower to come. He only caught two passes last season and was used as a decoy or blocker in the few offensive snaps he did get.

The 22-year-old Boehringer is from Germany, making him the first player in league history to be drafted straight from Europe.