During last year's NFL draft, the Vikings, hot and heavy for Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, traded four picks to the New England Patriots to trade back into the first round for him.

A year later, with the teams meeting on Sunday, it looks like the deal worked out for both sides.

The Vikings are thrilled with Patterson, who is on the verge of stardom if he isn't there already.

New England, meanwhile, took versatile linebacker Jamie Collins with Minnesota's 52nd overall pick, cornerback Logan Ryan with the 83rd and wide receiver Josh Boyce with the 102nd. They traded the 229th overall pick for running back LeGarrette Blount, who was effective in one season there.

While the Patriots could still probably use a big-play threat on the outside — they hope wide-out Aaron Dobson may one day become that — head coach Bill Belichick said during this morning's conference call that he had no regrets on passing on Patterson to trade down for more picks.

"We made the decision based on what we felt was best for our team," he said. "That's what we always do. We felt like at that time it would be the best thing for our team, and that's what we did."

So would the Patriots have drafted Patterson at No. 29 overall had the Vikings not come calling?

"I don't know. We didn't hold onto it, so," he said. "There were a lot of good players at that point. We feel we got one with the player we picked plus the other selections we received in moving back."