How The Matt Cassel Trade Affects The Chiefs and Matt Stafford

Matt Cassel was an afterthought to most fans until week one of last season when Tom Brady tore his ACL against the Kansas City Chiefs. Cassel was then put into the starting role where he went on to throw for 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Today, Cassel has been traded to the team that gave him the chance to shine. It was rumored that the Patriots would need at least a first rounder to trade Cassel, but they ended up trading him for the 35th pick in the draft. This trade doesn't only affect the Chiefs though; it also affects Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford. Here is how the trade affects the Chiefs and one top quarterback prospects in this year's draft.

Last season the Chiefs started three quarterbacks throughout the course of the season in Damon Huard, Brodie Croyle and Tyler Thigpen. While Huard and Croyle suffered season ending injuries, Thigpen had a solid year throwing for 18 touchdowns and led all quarterbacks in rushing. The Chiefs now have stability at the position and have some weapons to score. Dwayne Bowe is one of the best young receivers in the league and Tony Gonzalez is a future hall of famer at tight end. The running game should also be effective with Larry Johnson (if he isn't traded) and young players such as Jamaal Charles and Kolby Smith. They still need to improve on the offensive line and the defensive side of the ball, but the Chiefs could be fun to watch.

This trade could also cost the top quarterbacks in this year's draft lots of money. Right now Matt Stafford is the general consensus number one pick to the Detroit Lions. If the Lions decide to pass on him for a player like Aaron Curry or Jason Smith, Stafford could be in a free fall. Most of the teams in the top ten have either recently taken a quarterback in the 1st round or have big money tied up into a veteran. Even though they signed David Garrard to a big deal this past offseason, the Jaguars still aren't set at the quarterback position and would need to give him a long look. If the Jaguars don't take him, Stafford could possibly fall to 10 or 11 and be drafted by either the 49ers or Bills and a team like the Jets could trade up and take him.

When it's all said and done, this is a huge steal for the Chiefs. They get a proven quarterback and don't have to worry about paying huge money to a player who hasn't taken a snap in the NFL. The way things look right now, Stafford will be drafted by the Lions but a lot can change between now and April 25th.

First Day of Free Agency Winners and Losers

For many fans, free agency is the official start of a new season and the first day of free agency is when many players get big time money. This is also a day that can make or break a team. A good signing can give a contending team that one piece that puts them over the top while a bad signing could damage the salary cap and possibly cost a GM its job. Here are my winner and losers for the first day of free agency so far.

Winners:

Miami Dolphins: It's not often that a safety coming off a season with 129 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 2 interceptions gets cut, but the Dolphins found one in Gibril Wilson. Wilson addresses a huge need and is in the prime of his career. This move should keep the Dolphins competitive in the AFC East even if Tom Brady comes back fully healthy.

New England Patriots: Not often is the signing of a 33 year old running back applauded, but this one is different. Fred Taylor can still play. Taylor was forced out of town due to the emergence of the younger Maurice Jones-Drew who has 34 rushing touchdowns in his three year career with the Jaguars. Taylor may not be able to take a 20-25 carry workload but is fully capable of the 12-15 he will be getting per game in New England. Don't be surprised if Taylor comes in and has the same kind of impact that Corey Dillon did a few years ago.


Losers:

Washington Redskins: The Redskins made a huge splash in free agency by signing Albert Haynesworth and DeAngelo Hall to contracts worth a combined $155 million. Those two deals include $64 million in guaranteed money. While the Redskins landed arguably the best free agent in the class, these are both moves they will later regret. Haynesworth when he wants to be is an unstoppable force in the middle but has only played really well the last two seasons. Coincidentally those were contract years. Now that he has already cashed in, what motivation does he have to play hard? The signing of Hall was also a mistake. He is one of the most physically gifted corners in the league, but he thinks he is a lot better then he really is and is a cancer in the locker-room. . He also takes too many risks and too often gets beat for the long touchdown. With corners being so rare in the NFL right now, if you are a number one corner you wouldn't be on three teams in the last two years. The Redskins earlier this decade were always willing to pay the big bucks in free agency and not get many results, unfortunately there is a very real possibility it could happen again.

Fbkid's 2009 NFL Mock Draft #1

With players reporting to the combine, it is a good time to start projecting how the draft will shake up. A lot will change between now and April, so expect plenty of mock drafts in the upcoming months. Also expect in depth analysis as I come out with my position rankings. Here is my first of many mock drafts.

1. Detroit Lions: Matt Stafford QB Georgia
2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith T Baylor
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry LB Wake Forest
4. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech
5. Cleveland Browns: Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio State
6. Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Smith T Alabama
7. Oakland Raiders: Jeremy Maclin WR Missouri
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Eugene Monroe T Virginia
9. Green Bay Packers: Everette Brown DE Florida State
10. San Francisco 49ers: Mark Sanchez QB USC
11. Buffalo Bills: Brian Orakpo DE Texas
12. Denver Broncos: BJ Raji DT Boston College
13. Washington Redskins: Michael Oher T Mississippi
14. New Orleans Saints: Vontae Davis CB Illinois
15. Houston Texans: Aaron Maybin DE Penn State
16. San Diego Chargers: Rey Maulauga LB USC
17. New York Jets: Brian Cushing LB USC
18. Chicago Bears: Tyson Jackson DE LSU
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Maryland
20. Detroit Lions: James Lauranaitis LB Ohio State
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia
22. Minnesota Vikings: Josh Freeman QB Kansas State
23. New England Patriots: Clay Matthews LB USC
24. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma State
25. Miami Dolphins: Larry English DE Northern Illinois
26. Baltimore Ravens: DJ Moore CB Vanderbilt
27. Indianapolis Colts: Peria Jerry DT Mississippi
28. Philadelphia Eagles: Eben Britton T Arizona
29. New York Giants: Clint Sintim LB Virginia
30. Tennessee Titans: Percy Harvin WR Florida
31. Arizona Cardinals: Chris Wells RB Ohio State
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Duke Robinson G Oklahoma