Patriots Trade Cassel and Vrabel to Chiefs for 2nd Rounder

When many speculated that the Patriots were asking for either a first and third round pick or two second round picks for QB Matt Cassel it appears that all it took was a 2nd rounder to get the deal done.

The Kansas City Chiefs have traded the 34th overall pick to New England for QB Matt Cassell, not only for the QB but LB Mike Vrabel was tossed in as well.

“I have a long history with both players,” Chiefs' G.M. Scott Pioli said in a release. “Mike and Matt are men that I respect both personally and professionally. I look forward to having them as new members of the Chiefs family.”

Mike Lombardi of NFL Network tried to reason that this was a value move by the Patriots and that the third overall pick would have commanded a larger salary than Matt Cassel's franchise tag number and therefore accepted the 34th as sufficient compensation, but I believe this may be more about how the Patriots feel about Cassell's one year wonder status, and how he will look when he is not throwing to receivers like Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

If you look at history of QB trades and value, Daunte Culpepper with blown-out knee was traded for a second-round pick. A.J. Feeley was traded for a second-round pick.

Belichick also praised Cassel: "It is very easy to root for guys like Matt Cassel, who do everything the right way and flourish as a result. As much as we would have loved to continue working with Matt, we wish him nothing but the best as he takes this next step forward in his career."

If the Patriots are so high on Cassell and were asking for either a first and third round pick or two second round picks for Cassell why just settle for one 2nd rounder, why not get a 2nd and a 3rd? Why throw Mike Vrabel into the deal? The move remains puzzling as the Patriots are down two players with the opportunity to replace only one.

Perhaps somebody lost the players in a game of poker, or it was just Bill Belichicks way of helping out a friend in Scott Pioli.

For all you draftniks out there expect the Patriots to draft a LB early to replace Vrabel