Bills' Nyheim Hines OUT for Season; Falcons Trade Cordarrelle Patterson?

With Bills running back Nyheim Hines out for the 2023 season, the Atlanta Falcons have a potential trade partner for Cordarrelle Patterson in Buffalo.

Ever since the Atlanta Falcons drafted running back Bijan Robinson with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Cordarrelle Patterson's future with the team has come under question.

As it stands, the Falcons are rolling into training camp on Thursday with a crowded backfield consisting of Robinson, Patterson, Tyler Allgeier, and Caleb Huntley. The option of releasing Patterson has been on the table all summer, but now a potential trade partner for the veteran's services has emerged. 

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Buffalo Bills running back Nyheim Hines is expected to miss the 2023 season after suffering a "significant knee injury off-site" on Monday. The Bills acquired Hines from the Indianapolis Colts at the NFL trade deadline in a last-minute exchange for running back Zack Moss and a conditional sixth-round pick in this year's draft.

In nine games with Buffalo, Hines hauled in five receptions for 53 yards and one touchdown while scoring two touchdowns on 19 kick returns. Before his injury, Hines was slated to be the pass-catching option in Buffalo's backfield as well as the primary kick and punt returner for the Bills. 

Turns out, Atlanta has a player who fits those exact specifications in Patterson. Buffalo is in win now mode and could use a Swiss Army knife player to complement tailbacks James Cook, Damien Harris, and Latavius Murray.

The trade makes sense for Buffalo, but what about Atlanta? 

The Falcons have great depth at running back with Patterson on the roster and the veteran can also lineup at receiver. Patterson’s versatility could prove valuable to Atlanta in 2023 as the team never added a true No. 2 wideout to pair with Drake London this offseason. 

 However, this feels like the ideal time for Atlanta to get something in return for the aging Patterson while he still holds value to a team looking to make a run in the postseason. 

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You can follow Ben King on Twitter at @BKing_2023.

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