Cassel to the Chiefs: Why the Patriots Settled for Less

News broke on Saturday that QB Matt Cassel, who had been slapped with the Patriots' Franchise Tag, was traded, along with LB Mike Vrabel, to the Kansas City Chiefs for one second-round draft pick. It is hard to deny the interesting circumstances that surround this trade.

Bill Belichick's Co-Genius for eight years (and 3 Super Bowl Championships), Scott Pioli, just happens to be Kansas City's first-year General Manager. After the Patriots designated Cassel as their franchise player, the price tag for another team to sign him as a free agent was two first-round picks and his hefty salary. Of course, it was unlikely that a team would sign a one-year starter with a price tag that steep, especially knowing the Patriots were eager to rid themselves of Cassel's outrageous cap number and were open to a trade for less compensation.

The fact that Cassel was traded is neither suspicious nor a surprise. The fact that he was traded to Pioli's new team in a bundle with LB Mike Vrabel for a measly second-round pick is what has raised so many eyebrows. In a column for Fanhouse, Jay Mariotti calls it a "sweetheart deal" and thinks commissioner Roger Goodell should get involved.

The low compensation that the Patriots received is especially interesting considering that on the same day of the trade, the Patriots were close to a three-team deal with the Bucs and Broncos that would have netted them at least a first-round pick for Cassel. Also discussed in the potential three-team trade was Broncos QB Jay Cutler, who is apparently quite upset upon hearing the news (or is he?).

Entering this offseason, the Patriots were as close to the salary cap limit (about $128 million) as a team could be after they franchised Cassel. Now, after getting rid of Cassel and Vrabel's considerable contracts, they have somewhere around $15 million in free cap space. Problem solved.

But why didn't the Patriots get more for Cassel?!

I believe that, for one, Mariotti could very well be right that Belichick gave Pioli a "parting gift" of sorts. After all, the two won three Super Bowls together, went to four, and basically built the most dominant franchise since the Steelers of the '70's (and in an era of free agency and salary cap!). A nice way to give your buddy an immediate boost in his first gig as General Manager.

But while Belichick may have favored Pioli in trade discussions, he isn't that nice of a guy! I believe Belichick wanted only a second-round pick in exchange for Cassel for the very same reason he wanted to trade him -- the salary cap. A first-round pick (the Chiefs' #3 overall, for example, which wouldn't be unreasonable for Cassel and Vrabel) would require a significantly higher contract than a second-round pick. In addition, the opportunity cost of waiting a few extra days for the better deal -- while potentially missing out on signing desired free agents -- was not worth it to Belichick. So he took the sure thing.

Voilà! Belichick clears massive cap space and puts the Patriots in position to make a splash in free agency. The Chiefs, and Belichick's buddy, get a franchise quarterback for cheap. Both sides happy.