Patriots Give Away Keys to Cassel

In 2008, unknown and unheralded back-up QB Matt Cassel made his name known in the NFL after 2007 MVP Tom Brady was injured in the season opener. On Friday, the Patriots completed a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs that sent both Cassel and OLB Mike Vrabel to the Chiefs in return for a 2^nd round draft pick, the 35^th overall selection in this April's draft. With Brady's return expected at the beginning of the season, the Patriots put their faith in the king and got rid of Cassel.

For the Chiefs, this is a great move for the future of the team; Matt Cassel is a young quarterback and doesn't have to learn a new system thanks to Todd Haley's familiarity with Charlie Weiss and Bill Parcells' offensive schemes. Though Mike Vrabel is no longer known for being an explosive youthful pass rusher, he adds a great measure of leadership and experience to a locker room which severely lacked in both last season. Both Cassel and Vrabel are ready to make an impact for Kansas City next season, and the move also shows that the Chiefs mean business.

For the Patriots, one has to wonder what possessed them to seek so little in return for Cassel, who proved his viability as a consistent week-in week-out starter this past season. Many had talked about the possibility of the Patriots picking up a first round pick in addition to another player for Cassel alone. Although Mike Vrabel is aging, one could have expected them to get more in return for such a seasoned veteran. Still, the Patriots could use this pick in conjunction with their first-round selection to pick up two players to solidify an aging defensive corps or offensive line.

Which team this trade benefits more will be understood in the long run, but on paper it appears as though the Chiefs got the better end of the trade. Still, the Patriots desperate search for youth may begin and end at the draft, and if that's the case, this is a chance for New England to prove their doubters wrong once again.

Sources:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80efe755&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true