Report: Kansas City Chiefs release Shea Patterson

After a brief stint with the team as an undrafted free-agent, the Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly released former Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson. Field Yates of ESPN was first to report the news.

Patterson played two seasons at Michigan after transferring from Ole Miss, starting 26 games for the Wolverines. He finished his career first in school history with 217.7 passing yards per game, seventh in all-time passing yards (5,661) and seventh in passing touchdowns (45). His junior season was more efficient — as he ranked among the top 25 nationally in completion percentage, passer rating and yards per pass attempt — but his senior season saw Patterson’s numbers increase.

He became the first quarterback in school history to throw for at least 300 yards in three consecutive games, and he finished the year with the second-most passing yards in a single season in Michigan history (3,061 passing yards in 13 games). He was named third-team All-Big Ten both in 2018 and 2019.

“It’s been tough,” Patterson told WTOL 11’s Jordan Strack about the NFL Draft process when he signed with the Chiefs one week after the event concluded. “Not how I thought it would go. I had a talk with my quarterback coach Ben McDaniels before the draft. He kept telling me that it’s not about when it’s where. Whenever you get that opportunity, you’ll be ready. That’s kind of where I’m at. It was a bit of struggle early on. I’m just happy I have the opportunity.

“Not everything goes how it’s expected to go. I didn’t hear my name called and I didn’t have a free-agent deal right after the draft so there was a lot of waiting around and a lot of time on my hands. I just used that as motivation to work harder. I think I’ve worked out more over the last 11 days than I have my entire life. Just try to stay ready.”

It’s certainly a surprise to see Patterson without an NFL team. In an article leading up to the draft, a host of 247Sports recruiting analysts mentioned one player they were surprised that didn’t pan out to be a ‘can’t miss’ draft prospect. Director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong mentioned Patterson.

"Our top-ranked quarterback in the 2016 class went out and threw for 338 yards in a come-from-behind win at Texas A&M in his first career game,” Wiltfong wrote. “You feel good about his ranking at that point. The game seemed to move so slow for Patterson on the prep level, where he dominated in pads and on the camp circuit; he won Elite 11 MVP and led his 7-on-7 team to The Opening Championship. It seemed like the same sort of dominance would occur in the SEC after he came out firing. Obviously, it didn’t play out that way. Patterson was a guy that seemed to be able to beat teams with his arm and legs coming out of high school, an accurate passer who saw the field well and processed quickly. Now that we have a whole college career to digest, the arm talent doesn’t seem to be up to snuff. Patterson showed some turnover-prone tendencies in college as well. Although he ended up being a good college player, there’s a chance he doesn’t hear his name called in the draft."

SOURCE: Marsdale, Sam. "Report: Kansas City Chiefs release Shea Patterson." 247Sports.com, 10 July 2020, 
https://247sports.com/Article/Shea-Patterson-released-Kansas-City-Chiefs-Michigan-football-149033825/
 

The root of all evil wasn't Patterson, it was that slime-ball POS Hugh Freeze.  Great talent, but not the skills for the NFL.  It dawned on me his sophomore year, when he liked to do a five step drop, duck his head and run to the left -- that unless something drastically changed, he would have a Jevan Snead (RIP) type NFL career. I don't hold any animosity - kid and family tried to do what was best for him.  That's not to say that POS Michigan coach didn't piss me off to no end as well as Shea falling for his crap.  

zreb wrote:

I'm just happy for his Dad and tag along brother/coach.

Yeah me too.