Aaron Rodgers-type money for Matt Cassell?

by Fooch on Nov 16, 2008 11:14 PM PST Comment 25 comments

In the QB discussions all over the page, Matt Cassel's name has been thrown around as a possible replacement next season. He's a free agent in March so why not throw some money at him right? Well, if Adam Schefter is to be believed, it's gonna cost mucho dinero to acquire the services of Mr. Cassel.

Now Schefter's blog post is all inferrences so take them with a grain of salt, but he makes some intriguing points. He suggests Cassel would be in the market for a deal along the lines of Aaron Rodgers, since they're putting up somewhat similar numbers and are first time starters.

For starters, Cassel and Rodgers have the same agent, David Dunn. They also have started almost the exact number of games after taking over their jobs from legendary quarterbacks this season. And once they did, the two quarterbacks have posted similar numbers, as the chart below shows.

Cassel might not be as productive as Rodgers so far, but he is not far from. So if Rodgers got an average of close to $11 million per year, Cassel is expected to be anywhere in the $6-to-$10 million per year range, depending on how he finishes the season.

So to those folks clammering for a guy like Matt Cassel. Would you pony up that kind of cash? One other thing to keep in mind. The folks at PFT threw out something that actually made sense (I suppose when you throw enough stuff against the wall, something's bound to stick). They suggested that the Patriots might franchise Cassel and then trade him. So now it becomes a question of, would you deal the players/picks AND pay the cash?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.

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Pass. He’s looked up and down in NE withbetter weapons and solid line. I wouldnt mind taking a flier on him, but not at the money/draft picks it looks like its gonna cost. Let Minnesota take the gamble on him.

by sam23 on Nov 17, 2008 11:45 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

dont pass

he is young and still developing and getting better. taking any qb can be gamble.

Fans stuck in the 80's are lame. Respect the past, live in the now.

by maveric_87 on Nov 17, 2008 12:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

true, I guess if we draft one in the 1st he’ll probably cost just as much. I havent really seen him much

by sam23 on Nov 17, 2008 1:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I like Cassel

But throwing all that money at a relatively unproven commodity is very risky, IMO. What if he goes all Derek Anderson in his second year as a starter?

On the other hand, Anderson showed some of his weaknesses in the 2nd half of his first year as a starter, so maybe the best thing is to watch closely how defenses adjust to Cassel — and his seeming inability to complete the deep ball, even with Randy Moss — in the 2nd half of this season (and how he adjusts back).

Check out The Examined Life. Or don't. Whatever.
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK

by Josh from Hollywood on Nov 17, 2008 12:34 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

if he wins

at all in the playoffs because of his play then he should get a good size check

Fans stuck in the 80's are lame. Respect the past, live in the now.

by maveric_87 on Nov 17, 2008 1:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve followed Matt Cassell’s career since he was drafted and I’ve always rooted for him to succeed.

That said, I would not take a flyer on him. He’ll develop the deep ball in time and he’ll develop more confidence, but I just don’t feel he’d be a good fit in SF.

by Rishi on Nov 17, 2008 2:07 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

you followed his career since the day he was drafted? That must have been exhausting work for you trying to determine where exactly on the bench he’d be sitting each week and what baseball cap he would wear on game days. Imagine if you’d had to put forth the same kind of effort to follow his similarly wild college career.

by sam23 on Nov 22, 2008 12:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He was in on my fantasy benchwarmer team. I usually won first place

by Rishi on Nov 24, 2008 12:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Cassel is not a good enough QB to carry a team. The best way to be a contending team for a number of years is to have an elite quarterback. I don’t think Cassel will ever be in the Peyton Manning/Tom Brady range. That is the type of QB the 49ers should be aiming to get. At best I see Cassel as Elvis Grbac or something similar. There was nothing wrong with Grbac and he could take a team to the playoffs, but he was never going to carry a contending team.

My sports blog

by fredfotch on Nov 17, 2008 11:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Well, yes, but very few QBs will ever be in the Peyton Manning/Tom Brady range.

Of the current crop of QBs, I’d say only the following have a glimmer of hope:
Carson Palmer (on the right team), Matt Ryan (if he keeps his skills up), Ben Roethlisberger (if he stops being inconsistent), Eli Manning (if he continues his progress), Phillip Rivers (long shot), and Jay Cutler (there’s something special about this kid).

If I had to guess, I’d say only Jay Cutler and Matt Ryan end up there.

by Rishi on Nov 18, 2008 9:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

and Eli Manning...

but the point I would like to make about Cassel, one I think has been missed thus far, is that Cassel doesn’t need to be an elite standard QB to take a team as far as the S/Bowl as long as he has the weapons around him to succeed and a good o-line for protection. Plenty of ordinary QB’s have won superbowls before cos they have the personnel around them to win – Trent Dilfer for one.

by Ninerfromacrossthepond on Nov 19, 2008 10:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Flacco has a shot at least, a longshot, but a shot…… and Drew Brees is actually not that far off.

by sam23 on Nov 22, 2008 1:01 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Flacco has a shot to be the next Ben Roethlisberger, but you’re right about Brees – I don’t know why I forgot to put him on there. I can imagine him really being a top QB in the league. As of right now, he’s probably #3 behind Peyton and Tom

by Rishi on Nov 24, 2008 12:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Pats

Should keep him for another year until they see what Brady’s condition will be. Hell, if you believe some of the stories you hear… Tom Terrific is one infection away from having his leg amputated. (I don’t believe that btw.)

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Nov 18, 2008 2:47 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

To keep him for another year, the Pats would have to put the “franchise” tag on him — not something that’s done too often for guys projected to be a backup.

Check out The Examined Life. Or don't. Whatever.
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK

by Josh from Hollywood on Nov 18, 2008 2:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

True

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Nov 18, 2008 3:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Pats and cap

I think they’re similar to the 49ers in terms of salary cap standing. They will probably have the room to franchise him and not even affect their free agent endeavors, if they feel like that’s what they need to do.

However, my understanding of the Patriots is that (almost) every player on a team should be interchangeable. If a player leaves or goes down, it is the hope of the coaching staff (and front office) that another player should be able to step in and not create a significant drop-off in production. So it is possible that they don’t think a backup QB is worth a franchise tag. However, I think Tom Brady may be the only player on the Patriots that needs a very capable backup (with whom the coaching staff knows what they’re getting) in order for the team to remain successful.

Needless to say, it’ll be a very interesting offseason for the Patriots and any QB hungry teams.

by sfgfan on Nov 18, 2008 3:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not done often but makes sense

Brady’s already having complications with his surgery and unless the Pats are possibly intereseted in writing off the first part of the ’09 season they need to franchise Cassell.

by methodrampage on Nov 19, 2008 7:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting argument...

Do you pay the type of money ($6-$10 mil for ? years) on a slightly proven guy that is young, has an upside and has learned from great teachers, or do you pay 1st-2nd round dollars (I know they are significant, but I don’t know how much it would be not knowing the 9ers draft position) on a QB that will not be able to help for 3 years and is still a gamble even then?

I’m no Cassel fan (haven’t seen him enough), but I am a fan of going after proven talent over unknowns. If we want to be great within the next 3 years, go with proven talent at QB via a Free Agent. If we want to be patient and wait for another QB to develop, draft one.

I like the idea of finding the QB diamond waiting on a team with a proven vet/legend that is waiting and learning, but itching to get their own gig. Maybe they weren’t great at the Combines, or weren’t at the top-notch school and/or conference. At least they’ve seen and learned, and can actually give the team a chance to win now. There’s not enough P Mannings or D Marinos who can make relatively immediate impacts on their teams as 1st or 2nd year QB’s. Go for a surer thing and use the higher picks on other needs.

by StepUp on Nov 18, 2008 2:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I like to consider this

The “Steve Young” type player.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Nov 18, 2008 3:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I know you said you aren't a Cassel fan..

… but I just wanted to touch on it a little bit.

Cassel is far from a “known” commodity. What he does this year will definitely paint some sort of picture of what he has to offer a team, but it should in no way be considered a “clear” picture. It’s hard to say how much of his performance(s) have been a result of “Cassel the QB,” or “Cassel the QB in the Patriots offensive scheme.” With that said, it’ll almost be like drafting a college player, because you really don’t know how he’ll fit in your system, let alone in the league during his second year of full exposure to defenses.

by sfgfan on Nov 18, 2008 3:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Cassell is really in a unique situation

It’s hard to place his ceiling because he didn’t start a single game in college so who knows where he is developmently. I mean most guys getting better with playing and before this year he simply hasn’t had any over the last 6 years. Plus he’s in a pretty good system with a good coach and some pretty talented WR’s.

It’s all probably a mute point because I really think the Pats are more than likely going to franchise tag him.

by methodrampage on Nov 19, 2008 8:05 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs