4 players the NY Jets should've traded for at the deadline

3. The NY Jets should've traded for Cordarrelle Patterson

Another player who ultimately wasn't traded at the deadline is Atlanta Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson. It's not because his role in Atlanta is too significant, however.

Patterson was once the Falcons' lead back, but with younger running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier handling the brunt of backfield duties, he's become an afterthought.

Running back might not appear to be a significant need for the Jets on the surface, but the team's collection of tailbacks behind Breece Hall is not exactly threatening to opposing defenses.

Michael Carter has been used almost exclusively as a third-down back and has just eight carries this season. The less said about Dalvin Cook, who is statistically the worst running back in the NFL this season, the better.

Patterson would give the Jets a significant upgrade over Carter as a third-down back. The former All-Pro return man is a converted wide receiver who hauled in 52 catches for 548 yards and five touchdowns in the air two years ago as the Falcons' primary running back.

He's an electric receiving threat who has proven to be able to handle a sizable workload as a runner. Given his age, contract, and role in Atlanta's offense, it's hard to imagine it would have cost much to acquire him, either.

It might have only taken a swap of late-round picks to make a trade like this happen. Patterson would've instantly been the second-best running back on the roster, giving the team reliable depth in case Hall went down with an injury.

Alas, this is a position the Jets probably didn't care to prioritize. They're higher on their running back room than they probably should be.