With Cordarrelle Patterson gone, Vikings need a new kick returner

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings' special teams units have been in flux over the last year, with Blair Walsh's release last November and punter Jeff Locke's departure in free agency this spring. Kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson, of course, also left in free agency, and it's here where special teams coordinator Mike Priefer might have the biggest hole to fill.

Patterson was a two-time All-Pro as a kick returner and led the league in return average three times. It's prudent to parse the latter accomplishment, given the number of kickoffs Patterson brought out of the end zone, but he again staked his team to the league's best average field position after a kick return, putting the…