Cassel's Draft Impact

[VJCPatriot]

Prediction: Detroit is now forced to reach for Stafford at #1.
If they had been quicker on the trigger they could have had Cassel, but they were asleep at the switch and KC (the early bird) got the worm for a mere 2nd rounder. Tampa Bay might also be forced to reach for Freeman in the 1st now as well.

Detroit should have just offered their #20 straight up for Cassel, and figured out what to do with him later. If they couldn't land Cutler, Cassel would still have been a vast upgrade over the hodgepodge they have at QB. And now because they whiffed on Cassel, they have to gamble a #1 overall pick on Stafford, with the HUGE guaranteed money that goes with that pick and PRAY that he doesn't bust the way Joey Harrington did.

Lions are still the Lions after all! Some things never change.

 

[Mark Morse]

Agreed ... they could have drafted the top OL or OLB Curry, or BJ Raji as top DT. Now they have to reach for Stafford. KC is going to end up with either Curry or Raji now.

 

[Nestapats]

And this is just something i don't get. Why didn't the pats shop Cassel more. I mean couldn't we have said against the lions: Look, we now get a high second rounder from the Chiefs, if you guys give us your 20th pick, the deal is done, and you know what to sweeten the deal we'll give you vrabel for a conditional fourth in 2010 which could become as high as a third rounder. That would've been ideal.

Another option was to include a guy like Flowers in the deal with KC. He was drafted at the start of the second round and would fill a void here. We should've been more aggresive in my opinion.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Hindsight is 20/20. And it looks like from all reports that Denver/Tampa were playing lowball until they heard of the KC offer. The mistake they made was not making their strongest offer to the Pats right off the bat.

 

[Taxed in Maine]

I am quite sure that I read something from Schefter that said the Lions offered a pick but it asn't as good as KC.
And the other thing is, Cassell has been Franchised for 3 weeks. If these other teams had any interest, they had time to inquire. But waited until it was too late. Too bad for them. BB made the move with the best offer he had on the table.

 

[Water Boy]

And this is just something i don't get. Why didn't the pats shop Cassel more. I mean couldn't we have said against the lions: Look, we now get a high second rounder from the Chiefs, if you guys give us your 20th pick, the deal is done...

Teams don't have to wait to the start of FA to negotiate trades. If the Lions had any real interest in Cassel all of this should have been worked out prior to the start of FA. Sure as sh-t, the offer from KC had been in place well before Friday and there was plenty of time for the offer/counter offer process to be played out with Detroit.

 

[mgteich]

First of all teams did have three weeks to come to the patriots. The answer is that only one team was willing to offer ANYTHING for what the patriots had to offer: a one year contract for Cassel's services at a cost of $14.6M. Should Detriot have offered their #20 for that? They decided against.

And I do NOT believe that Detroit is forced to make a terrible mistake a draft Stafford. #20 or the second round is soon enough for a QB for them. Also there are free agents QB available. Personally, I don't think Cassel would help Detriot much for at least a couple for years. Detriot has yet another opportunity to use their draft and cap well. It is likely they will gain fail.

And this is just something i don't get. Why didn't the pats shop Cassel more. I mean couldn't we have said against the lions: Look, we now get a high second rounder from the Chiefs, if you guys give us your 20th pick, the deal is done, and you know what to sweeten the deal we'll give you vrabel for a conditional fourth in 2010 which could become as high as a third rounder. That would've been ideal.

Another option was to include a guy like Flowers in the deal with KC. He was drafted at the start of the second round and would fill a void here. We should've been more aggresive in my opinion.

 

[WhiZa]

I agree they will draft Stafford, and they probably did not go after Cassel (like most teams) because of the cap number. The Patriots must of wanted to free up the cap space badly, and took the best deal they could get early

 

[Ochmed Jones]

First of all teams did have three weeks to come to the patriots.

The really odd thing is that KC did not have a contract extension worked out with Cassel before the trade.

I find that very interesting. Something is just not right with this whole deal.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The really odd thing is that KC did not have a contract extension worked out with Cassel before the trade.

I find that very interesting. Something is just not right with this whole deal.

Well, look at it this way: the only way Cassel gets completely screwed right now is if he has a major injury in 2009 [and even then he can buy an insurance policy to cover that]. Other than that, he is either (A) given a tender in 2010 for $16M+, (B) signed to a long-term deal, or (C) becomes a free agent.

I also can't see any real way the Chiefs make out better than the Patriots did; there wasn't really a market for Cassel, and I simply can't imagine the uproar if the Broncos traded for Cassel now.

 

[maverick4]

This is why Detroit, Tampa, Minnesota, and Chicago are and will for the foreseeable future be losers.

Minnesota paid a 4th for Sage Rosenfels, and Detroit is about to ruin their franchise more paying huge money for a crappy QB from a weak QB draft class.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

This is why Detroit, Tampa, Minnesota, and Chicago are and will for the foreseeable future be losers.

Minnesota paid a 4th for Sage Rosenfels, and Detroit is about to ruin their franchise more paying huge money for a crappy QB from a weak QB draft class.

I agree. Ithink Stafford will need some time to develop and unfortunately he may not get that in Detriot.

 

[mgteich]

Yes, this is the worst case for Cassel. He is injured and he and his children live off the $14.6M for the rest of their lives.

Well, look at it this way: the only way Cassel gets completely screwed right now is if he has a major injury in 2009 [and even then he can buy an insurance policy to cover that]. Other than that, he is either (A) given a tender in 2010 for $16M+, (B) signed to a long-term deal, or (C) becomes a free agent.

I also can't see any real way the Chiefs make out better than the Patriots did; there wasn't really a market for Cassel, and I simply can't imagine the uproar if the Broncos traded for Cassel now.

 

[upstater1]

First of all teams did have three weeks to come to the patriots. The answer is that only one team was willing to offer ANYTHING for what the patriots had to offer: a one year contract for Cassel's services at a cost of $14.6M. Should Detriot have offered their #20 for that? They decided against.

And I do NOT believe that Detroit is forced to make a terrible mistake a draft Stafford. #20 or the second round is soon enough for a QB for them. Also there are free agents QB available. Personally, I don't think Cassel would help Detriot much for at least a couple for years. Detriot has yet another opportunity to use their draft and cap well. It is likely they will gain fail.

I really think they are forced to take Stafford.

They better hope they can trade down 7 or 8 spots, because Stafford will get snatched up before #20.

You simply can't enter a NFL season with Culpepper as your starter. You are dooming yourself if you do that. Why in the world did they trade Kitna? I don't get it.

At #20, Sanchez would be available. I would rather take Stafford at #1 than Sanchez at #20. I have very little confidence in Sanchez at that spot.

I can't see what in the world they are thinking in Detroit. At the very least, Orlovsky looked competent (in a, say, Damon Huard sense) when he was in there. Orlovsky would be the worst starter in the league, but that's still a lot better than a QB who would struggle to be the third QB on the vast majority of the league's teams. They got rid of Kitna and Orlovsky, never traded for Cassel. Just dumb.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Detroit could be royally screwed if they don't take Stafford at #1. That being said they can't trade down too far or else someone may jump up to get him. I believe this guy's value is truly somewhere between 10-15. They will overpay.

They also have to be careful with 20 or else the Jets will pounce on Sanchez. Either way you look at it they are going to look foolish imo. If for some reason they take Curry they will get a phone call fictional or not from probably pick 12 on up claiming someone is moving up to get Sanchez. Do you want to get in on this deal? The panic will set in and they will end up losing pick 20 and possibly pick 33 this year.

I won't shed a tear, if they were smart they would of grabbed Cassel with 20. Curry should of been their pick to help shore up that train wreck of a defense and they could of got great value help at their offensive line with pick 33. Crap even with Cassel,Curry and this years draft there is no helping this team. If Cassel didn't work out they could of taken a better QB in 2010. Probably a top 5 pick if not pick 1. Lions are a laughing stock for a reason.

 

[mgteich]

Detroit is not going to be a playoff team this year or next. Drafting a top quarterback, if there were one, wouldn't help. What will help their chances in 2011 is to sign linemen and linebackers.