Lions trade for playoff hero to address major question mark
We have a trade! The Detroit Lions have traded for kicker Riley Patterson in exchange for a 2024 conditional seventh-round draft pick, according to Aaron Wilson. If Patterson’s name sounds familiar to Lions fans, it’s because it wasn’t all that long ago when he was drilling kicks for Detroit. Patterson got his start in the […]
We have a trade! The Detroit Lions have traded for kicker Riley Patterson in exchange for a 2024 conditional seventh-round draft pick, according to Aaron Wilson.
If Patterson’s name sounds familiar to Lions fans, it’s because it wasn’t all that long ago when he was drilling kicks for Detroit.
Patterson got his start in the NFL by signing with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He was released just before the season due to injury, but was quickly scooped up by the New England Patriots’ and placed on the practice squad.
He lasted less than a month on the Patriots’ practice squad before the Lions signed Patterson to their active roster. He kicked in seven games for Detroit going 13-14 (92.9%) and connecting on all 16 of his extra point tries with the team. He even earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after nailing three field goals and three extra points in a Week 15 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
However the life of a kicker is a fragile one. The Lions waived Patterson just before the start of the 2022 season leading him to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He went 30-35 (85.7%) on field goal attempts with the Jags. He also drilled a game-winner in the team's epic comeback win over the Chargers in the AFC Wild Card Round.
Even after another solid season, the Jags were ready to jump back into the kicker carousel and now he reunites with the Lions. Patterson will compete with Michael Badgley and John Parker Romo for the starting job in training camp.
Badgley didn’t have a terrible season with Detroit in 12 games last season. He went 20-24 on field goals and made all 33 extra points. With that being said, this is likely to be a two-horse race between him and Patterson. Time will tell who comes out on top, but Patterson likely enters the competition as the early favorite to land the gig.
