What the Cassel Trade to KC Means for the Hawks

by: Mike Parker

In case you hadn't yet heard, the Patriots shipped off backup QB Matt Cassel to the Kansas City Chiefs today in exchange for KC's second-round draft choice (No.34 overall.)

This could be very bad news for the Seahawks' hopes of drafting Michael Crabtree. The Chiefs may decide to use their No.3-overall pick on a promising young receiver for Cassel to throw to, since it's now safe to say they won't be looking at Matt Stafford (or Mark Sanchez. Excuse me while I fall over laughing.) They also may want to steer away from going defense in the first round, as they did last year with Glen Dorsey.

A strong case could be made against that train of thought, however, when you take into account that the Chiefs have had quarterback problems for several years. They could simply choose to rely on the existing talents of TE Tony Gonzalez and WR Dwayne Bowe, who are solid downfield threats, and now will benefit from having a better man under center.

Additionally, there are still a fair number of free-agent receivers out there that KC could be shopping at the moment. Hence, they may take LB Aaron Curry with their first-round pick to solidify a run defense that was in the cellar at the end of the 2008 season. That choice also would make perfect sense. -END-