The Chiefs have acquired 26-year old QB Matt Cassel in addition to linebacker Mike Vrabel for the 34th pick (2nd round) in the 2009 NFL Draft.  Cassel immediately becomes the Chiefs’ starting QB heading into the 2009 season.  He played in all 16 games for the Patriots last season and he completed 327 of 516 passes (63.4%) for 3,693 yards with 21 TD passes and 11 interceptions (89.4 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 73 times for 270 yards (3.7 ypc) with 2 TD runs last year.  Cassel has now played in 30 games in his NFL career so far and he has completed 349 of 555 passes (62.9%) for 3,946 yards with 23 TD passes and 13 interceptions (88.2 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 85 times for 298 yards (3.5 ypc) with 3 TD runs in his career.  This was a master stroke by GM Scott Pioli in his first real acquisition for the Chiefs.

The first addition of the new regime of the Chiefs was acquiring 33-year old linebacker Mike Vrabel from the Patriots for an undisclosed draft pick.  Vrabel played in 16 games for the Patriots last season and he made 62 tackles, defensed 4 passes, forced 1 fumble and he had 1 interception.  Vrabel has now played in 176 games in his NFL career in which he has made 641 tackles, has defended 36 passes, has 55 sacks, forced 17 fumbles and he has 11 interceptions (one of which he returned for a TD).  Vrabel might be starting to slow down but he knows how to win and he’s a playmaker so this was a good move if he has anything left.