The price for Matt Cassel has gone up. I don't know if Cassel was fed the "I would back-up Tom Brady because the Patriots is his team" line or if these are his true feelings, but it sends a message out to the league that New England doesn't have to trade either quarterback. They could have the best depth at the position in the league with two Pro Bowl-caliber passers on the roster. So if your team needs a franchise QB and you can't draft either Matt Stafford nor Mark Sanchez, acquiring Cassel will be at a premium price.
Of course a collection of draft picks for the former Trojan would fit the bill, but there will be other teams that might offer a player or two in return.
This off-season might be highlighted by high profile players being traded. The signs in San Diego indicate that RB LaDanian Tomlinson will be shipped or snipped, as cut from the Chargers. Within the division, Oakland CB Nnamdi Asomugha says he wants out of the Raiders. His freedom will come at a price as Oakland likely will franchise arguably the best corner in the league (I disagree with that notion after Randy Moss make a mockery of Asomugha and his teammates in week 15). And Carolina DE Julius Peppers wants to play for a 3-4 team so he can rush the passer more. After a bounce-back season where he notched a career high 14.5 sacks in 2008, he would be the top prize because elite pass rushers are the hardest players to find in the league.
All three teams have players that would fill a need for the Pats -- Tomlinson adds explosiveness to an underrated ground game; Asomugha gives the secondary the shutdown corner it lacks; and Peppers would be the rush linebacker the defense sorely lacked. But of those teams, only Carolina needs and upgrade at QB. For Carolina to compete for championships, they need better play than what Jake Delhomme gave them. Productive play from under center along with the thrid-best rushing offense would take the Panthers to the next level.
The only question left would be can Peppers make a successful switch from down lineman to linebacker. He's an athlete unlike anyone in this league. He's 6-7, 283 pounds, and at the prime of his career at 29 years old. The athleticism isn't in question. But he won't get special treatment in New England. Peppers would have to drop back into coverage like Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas do. At that size, can Peppers backpedal into a zone or turn and run with tight ends and running backs? At that weight I wonder if he could do those skills effectively.
Then the question of cost comes to mind. If Peppers is franchised, he would be entitled to a $16.7 million one-year deal. Would he sign a deal for less just to be on the Patriots? If Brady and DE Richard Seymour give home town discounts for the chance to compete for championships, Peppers would have to put success before excess to dress in blue and silver.
Could a Peppers for Cassel trade happen? Maybe. But it won't be the only trade discussed in the front offices at Gillette Stadium.
