Official Matt Cassel / Pats Draft thread

[SShorefan 4.0]

Matt Cassel & the Patriots draft.

So now that Tom Brady has come out and basically shown that he's healthy and will be ready to go for the 09 season, let the speculation begin....what will become of Matt Cassel?

Obviously the Pats will trade him, but to whom, for what and when?

Who:
Detroit
San Francisco
Kansas City
Minnesota
NY Jets

These are the obvious teams looking for a QB and Detroit makes the most sense because they have a pick at #20 they could offer up.  For obvious reasons the Jets make the least amount of sense. 

What:
Is this a case of New England highly over rating Cassel's value (tenth best QB rating this year)?  Are his numbers a result of being part of a system?  Will any of the free agents (Boller, Garcia, etc...) be seen as a suitable stop gap to a team?  Will the poor performances of Scott Mitchell and others make teams gun shy?  How will the two top QBs do in assessments?
All of these are legitimate questions and all have a huge impact on what a team is willing to offer.  Moss went for a 4th rounder, Matt Schaub (7th best QB rating) went for a swap of close first rounders and a couple of second rounders.
Perhaps a player is thrown into the mix? 

When:
Will Cassel go before this years draft or after?  Obviously the difference is huge in what the Pats will be looking for in return. 

............

So what do you think?

Ideally, I'd like to see the Pats trade Cassel to Detroit for the 20th pick.  I think it's fair compensation and it would allow Detroit to draft a strong offensive lineman and get a proven QB for the 20th pick which would save them millions compared to drafting a QB with the #1 pick (which neither appears worthy of anyway).

[beantownboy171]

i would like to see them trade cassel straight up for peppers, although the panthers seem to still be  satisfied with the averageness of jake delhomme

[Cman]

I agree that in all likelihood Cassell will be traded.

I don't agree that the Pats will get a 1st round pick in return; I think 2nd round is more likely -- for example, #33 from Detroit or #34 from KC -- which would be very fair value.

[goCeltics]

can't see the jets thing happening, i know they traded to drew to buffalo, but's different, belichek has a more of a rep as a guru now, no one would think cassell was good if he was willing to trade him within his own divison.

[BigAlTheFuture]

Matt Cassell for a early 2nd rounder seems realistic.

[yall hate]

i would like to see them trade cassel straight up for peppers, although the panthers seem to still be  satisfied with the averageness of jake delhomme

There is no chance this happens.  peppers number with the franchise tag is 17 million. any trade for him would require a massive long term deal, the kind of deal the pats wouldnt give. 

[Cman]

Matt Cassell for a early 2nd rounder seems realistic.

Yes, realistic.  And I have heard this is supposed to be a deep draft, so it will be good value.

[StartOrien]

Matt Cassell for a early 2nd rounder seems realistic.

Yes, realistic.  And I have heard this is supposed to be a deep draft, so it will be good value.

I would think that a first round pick isn't a reach by any means. The guy looked really good, and there is a severe lack of talent at the QB position league wide. If I was Detroit, I'd think getting Cassel for the 20th pick would be a steal.

[Cman]

Matt Cassell for a early 2nd rounder seems realistic.

Yes, realistic.  And I have heard this is supposed to be a deep draft, so it will be good value.

I would think that a first round pick isn't a reach by any means. The guy looked really good, and there is a severe lack of talent at the QB position league wide. If I was Detroit, I'd think getting Cassel for the 20th pick would be a steal.

Hey, as a Pats fan, I would be nothing but happy about that outcome.  I'm just not banking on it. I expect that if the Pats don't hold on to Cassell, they get a 2nd rounder for him.  I am hoping it is a high 2nd rounder, and would be ecstatic if it was a 1st rounder...

[nickagneta]

I think the Lions 20th pick or Tampa's 19th pick would probably be ideal expectations for the Pats in what they would receive back for Cassel this year if they were to trade him. The Pats love the salary slot that late teen and early 20's first round picks receive as they think that is the highest value area of the draft in regards to salary compensation vs performance on a locked in 5 year deal.

Of course, if San Fran were to determine that Cassel is a more sure thing than any of the QBs that might be available to them at #10 and the Pats see enough value in drafting another player at #10 that they feel has superstar quality in them for that price, that could be the perfect scnario.

I also would not be surprised if they traded him for a 2010 first round draft pick and a third rounder this year.

[action781]

Matt Cassell for a early 2nd rounder seems realistic.

Yes, realistic.  And I have heard this is supposed to be a deep draft, so it will be good value.

I would think that a first round pick isn't a reach by any means. The guy looked really good, and there is a severe lack of talent at the QB position league wide. If I was Detroit, I'd think getting Cassel for the 20th pick would be a steal.

I agree.  A first rounder sounds like a high price generally, but if you were Detroit, would you rather draft the best QB available there with that pick or get Matt Cassel with the pick?  I think its a pretty easy choice.  Well, I guess I'd rather work on shoring up the defense first actually, but this is assuming they want to go QB.  I think they'd rather go defense there and offer the Pats a 2nd round pick. 

I don't feel the Pats are in a position of power here though.  We are the ones who need to get rid of Cassell, we can't be spending $29 M on our quarterback position this season.  If a team says "no we aren't giving you a first, we'll give you a second" the pats are in no position to say "ehhh, thats not good enough, we'll just hold on to him".  I think other teams should understand this leverage.  The only way the price gets drived up is if there's a bidding war, which we have to hope for.

[beantownboy171]

My guess, and as a pats fan i've experienced the dissapointment of belicheck dong this, is that he'll find a team he knows is a crappy and trade for their 2010 first rounder, like he did with the 49ers a few years back.

Just one of those belicheck things that frustrates the fans but is genious in the long term

[the_Bird]

My guess, and as a pats fan i've experienced the dissapointment of belicheck dong this, is that he'll find a team he knows is a crappy and trade for their 2010 first rounder, like he did with the 49ers a few years back.

Just one of those belicheck things that frustrates the fans but is genious in the long term

Yup.  Seems like he rarely trades for a pick in the current draft, instead he gets picks in the following years' draft.  If you're consistent about this, it benefits you in the long run; essentially, teams view a 1st rounder NEXT year the same as a second rounder this year. 

You can't really blame other teams in one respect.  Most coaches and GMs are on a much shorter leash than Belichick.  They need as much help as they can get, as soon as they can get it; they don't have the luxury of having the job security of Belichick, if there's a player than can help them next year, they need to draft him even if if means not being able to draft someone even better in twelve months. 

Just one of those subtle things that help teams like Pittsburg and New England be able to be consistently good for a long period of time - take advantage of other teams' inherent shortsightedness.  That's why I'm pretty sure Pioli took the Kansas City job when he could have gone almost anywhere; the Hunts are known for being a patient lot.

[SShorefan 4.0]

My guess, and as a pats fan i've experienced the dissapointment of belicheck dong this, is that he'll find a team he knows is a crappy and trade for their 2010 first rounder, like he did with the 49ers a few years back.

Just one of those belicheck things that frustrates the fans but is genious in the long term

I can see this being the situation if he's not dealing with someone who used to be part of his staff.  I would think he would see a greater chance of that pick being stronger with a San Fran or Detroit.

[SShorefan 4.0]

It looks as if the Vikings are off the market as they are close to dealing for Texans back up QB Sage Rosenfels. 

This is good and bad.

Bad in the sense that it's one less possible trading partner.

Good because the Vikings are giving up a 4th rounder for a back up who threw for 1400 yards 6 TDs and 10 INTs this season.  Based on this, Cassel is at least a quality second rounder (his #s 3700 yards 21/11)