Chiefs Acquire Matt Cassel

Posted Feb 28, 2009 1:08PM By Adam Gretz (RSS feed)

As Scott Pioli's rebuild of the Kansas City Chiefs continues, Adam Schefter of NFL.com is reporting that the team has acquired quarterback Matt Cassel from the New England Patriots. Peter King reports the deal as being Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel -- who was reportedly dealt to Kansas City on Friday -- for Kansas City's second round pick in 2009.

Cassel had been designated as the Patriots' franchise player this offseason and was expected to serve as an insurance policy should Tom Brady's knee not be fully recovered from surgery following his injury in Week 1 last season. Based on this trade, it's fair to assume that the Patriots are very confident that Brady will be 100 percent for the start of '09.

Originally a seventh-round pick by the Patriots in 2005, Cassel started New England's final 15 games this season and helped lead the Patriots to an 11-5 finish, as they became only the second team in over 20 years to miss the postseason with such a record.

He completed 63 percent of his passes, throwing for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns.

It's quite a risk for Kansas City, seeing as how Cassel has very little experience as a starting quarterback above the high school level. He spent his entire college career backing up Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC, and then spent the first three years of his NFL career sitting behind Brady.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

2-28-2009 @ 1:48PM

bdreed37 said...

wow if this is true. id like to know what k.c gave up

2-28-2009 @ 10:06PM

ramacdowell said...

The Chiefs gave up a 2009 2nd round pick. Doesn't seem like the Pats got enough in return.

3-02-2009 @ 3:05PM

Mike said...

A high 2nd round pick isn't enough? Don't forget, the Chiefs through this trade are taking $19 million in cap money off the Patriots hands AND giving them a high 2nd round pick.
Cassel was a free agent and the Patriots were going to lose him for zippo....so they franchise him and get a 2nd round pick for someone who was going to leave anyway and a Vrabel at the end of his career. I think the Pats scored big-time.

geraldr5 said...

It could be the Chief's best and most important since Tony Gonzalez!!! Cassell is an outstanding quarterback, and he more than proved that last year, stepping in for Brady. He has served as a back-up to some outstanding quarterbacks. Now it's his turn. I'm sure he'll make the most of it. Fight On, Matt!!!

2-28-2009 @ 3:48PM

Ryan said...

how can u be so sure casses is so "outstanding". He played under a great system as well as having welker and moss to throw to. he might turn out to be decent but no way can u call him outstanding and even with all that talent i happened to notice the patriots didnt make the playoffs. now lets go see him be outstanding with all that talent the chiefs have

2-28-2009 @ 1:53PM

jeffreywesth said...

Well Matt, it's starting to shape up as the Kansas City Patriots. Best of luck!!

2-28-2009 @ 1:56PM

fish said...

I still think Thigpen could have started, but Cassel will be an upgrade, especially if they get a second WR through free agency and draft a tight end to eventually replace Gonzalez. Now they just need a defense. And a running back. And an offensive line. And a special teams unit.

2-28-2009 @ 2:00PM

DKskinsfan said...

"It's quite a risk for Kansas City, seeing as how Cassel has very little experience as a starting quarterback"

They have 15 games tape against NFL competition not some college team's, like Stafford or Sanchez. Risk? Get real..

2-28-2009 @ 2:04PM

Adam Gretz said...

So you're saying there's no risk involved with Matt Cassel? I disagree. It may not be as risky as paying Matt Stafford $40 million dollars as the No. 3 pick (and I wouldn't call that risky, I'd call that stupid), but there's certainly plenty of risk involved here. The guy has played 15 games in eight years, and he's not going to be throwing to Randy Moss and Wes Welker in Kansas City. I think there's plenty of risk involved.

2-28-2009 @ 3:10PM

Devine said...

To play devil's advocate for a second, Adam, what if he's throwing to Dwayne Bowe, Michael Crabtree and Tony Gonzalez? There are worse receiving corps than that, right?

2-28-2009 @ 2:20PM

Redskins0492 said...

This is ridculous. I really think that they should take out this cheap Franchise and then Trade thing that's becoming popular in the league. What's the use of free agency if players are simply franchised then traded? A team should have the choice of resigning a player or not, and if necessary, then franchise the player. They shouldn't be allowed to trade players after they have been franchised.

Otherwise, I really don't think this was a good idea, since Thigpen was doing solid. They had other needs, and wasting the 3rd overall pick to get him (if that is indeed what they traded) is overpaying for him.

2-28-2009 @ 2:22PM

yungyung said...

Do all of yall know nothing about football, of course its a risk, considering he threw to Randy Moss and Wes Welker, also he threw in the spread offense, when he played under center he looked horrible, I predict that K.C. will be unpleasantly surprised once the season gets going, and most of my predictions are right on.

2-28-2009 @ 5:00PM

tom said...

They gave up their 2nd round pick. This is a minimal risk because they got vrabel as well. He should upgrade the defense for at least a year. I think Cassel was a product of the Patriots system and the talent around him, but he is an upgrade for the chiefs

2-28-2009 @ 2:25PM

wtilleman said...

Cassel was good with the Patriots because they knew how to use his talents. Just as with Brady stepping in for Bledsoe, the coaching staff played it safe and Cassel shone. Will he shine with KC - depends on the coaching staff calling the right plays.

2-28-2009 @ 2:27PM

lazyindiankid4 said...

WOW i feel sorry for all you Kansas City fans at the moment. Do you guys really believe that Matt Cassell is going to be even close to as good as he was in NE? On the patriots he was built around a solid Defense, an explosive offense, and a pretty good special teams. If you have ALL these elements on your team already, dont you think any QB is going to suceed in this? You have Bill Belichik as ur coach who is a pure genius, all the spy gate stuff is bs. he is not going to suceed in Kansas city because they r a total mess and no where as good as the PATs. Now you guys must be thinking i am a Pats fan, but i am a redskins fan. Even if you our gay QB(Jason campbell) in the Pats system he wud look good. But, Brady has proven that he is a elite QB. So the point is that Matt Cassel wont be as good as he was in NE. The rest, good luck to him.

Hail To the Redskins!!

2-28-2009 @ 5:34PM

smevic said...

Obviously, you know nothing about the Chief's organization. It's a whole new game for them this year. Good solid players like Gonazalez and Bowe are the cornerstone of a new offense rounded out by Cassel. If I'm not mistaken they still have a #3 draft pick....It's all good for Chief's fans...we just love the city and the CHIEFS!

2-28-2009 @ 8:37PM

i'm sorry whoever u r but all i can say is that the cheifs suck and that casell wont achieve even 3/4 of wat he did in New England..Nuff said