TAMPA — Undrafted wide receiver Dean Patterson IV, a Lutz native who watched Super Bowl LV from the nosebleeds in a Chris Godwin jersey, led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in receptions Saturday as they topped the Kansas City Chiefs 16-15 at Raymond James Stadium to move to 2-0 in the preseason.
Patterson caught six passes for 56 yards, accounting for more than a third of Tampa Bay’s passing offense. His lunging 24-yard sideline grab — the longest play of the night — helped set up quarterback Jalon Daniels’ two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ko Kieft six plays later as the Bucs erased a 9-0 second-half deficit.
“I thought he showed up,” Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles said. “He did a great job with the yards after catch, turning short gains, short pass plays into some gains right there. He did a very good job.”
Patterson needed a tryout just to crack the 90-man roster. He was one of four players the Bucs signed following a 40-player tryout during rookie minicamp after going undrafted. In four seasons at Florida International, he recorded 1,406 yards and nine touchdowns through the air plus two touchdowns on the ground, including a 2024 season in which he posted 709 yards and nine touchdowns from scrimmage. He then transferred to Georgia Tech, where he put up 150 yards on eight catches in his lone season with the Yellow Jackets.
Saturday marked his second consecutive strong preseason showing. Patterson led the team with five catches for 24 yards in Tampa Bay’s preseason opener against the New York Jets. He credited Wide Receiver Coach Bryan McClendon for his rapid development.
“Yeah, ‘B-Mac’ does a great job developing receivers,” Patterson said. “He is pushing me every day. Truly I couldn’t wish for a better coach, honestly.”
The Raymond James Stadium debut carried personal weight for Patterson, who recalled attending Super Bowl LV festivities in Tampa during his senior year of high school. “My senior year of high school — the Super Bowl year — I was here with all the festivities in my Chris Godwin jersey, mind you. I’m in the indoor kicking field goals. It was one of the little games they had around the city,” he said. “Being in the nosebleeds of that game, cheering — so, so happy. I loved to see Tampa like that, and I really want to be able to get Tampa jumping and hype. I’m definitely excited for the team.”
Now Godwin’s teammate, Patterson said the homecoming performance meant everything. “Man, it’s a huge blessing. I had a lot of family here — I wanted to be able to show out and be able to represent my city,” Patterson said. “Like I said, a lot of people don’t really get these opportunities, so to be able to have that opportunity, I want to be able to capitalize off of it.”
The Buccaneers close the preseason with their third exhibition game, where Patterson will look to solidify his case for a spot on the 53-man roster before final cuts.