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KCChiefs.com – The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Saturday that the club has acquired QB Matt Cassel and LB Mike Vrabel from New England in exchange for the Chiefs second-round pick (34th overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft. The agreement is contingent on both players reporting and passing their physicals.

“I have a long history with both players,” said Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli. “Mike and Matt are men that I respect both personally and professionally. I look forward to having them as new members of the Chiefs family.”

Cassel (6-4, 230) has played in 30 games (15 starts) during his four-year career with New England (2005-08). He has completed 349 of 555 passes (62.9%) for 3,946 yards with 23 TDs and 13 INTs, good for an 88.2 QB rating. In addition, he has 85 carries for 298 yards (3.5 avg.) with three TDs. Cassel has also played in four postseason contests and was a member of the Patriots Super Bowl XLII club. He originally entered the NFL as the first of New England’s two seventh-round picks (230th overall) in the 2005 NFL Draft.

The Northridge, California native played in 25 games at Southern California, completing 20 of 33 passes for 192 yards. Cassel served as the backup to Heisman Trophy winning QBs Carson Palmer and Matt Leinhart for the Trojans. Cassel was a prep standout at Chatsworth High School in Chatsworth, California.

Vrabel (6-4, 261) has played in 176 games (110 starts) during his 12-year NFL career with New England (2001-08) and Pittsburgh (’97-00). He was a member of four Super Bowl teams with New England, including Patriots squads that won Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX. He was also named to the AFC Pro Bowl squad following the 2007 campaign.

The Akron, Ohio native has accumulated 681 tackles (453 solo), 51.0 sacks (-335.0 yards), 11 INTs for 73 yards with one TD, 35 passes defensed, 16 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and 47 special teams tackles, as well as eight TD receptions. He has seen action in 19 postseason games (17 starts), registering 95 tackles (65 solo), 8.0 sacks (58.0 yards), three passes defensed, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He also owns a pair of TD receptions in the postseason.

Vrabel originally entered the NFL as a third-round draft pick (91st overall) of Pittsburgh in ‘97 and joined the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent in 2001. The Ohio State product recorded 36.0 QB sacks and 66.0 tackles for loss during his collegiate career. Vrabel attended Walsh Jesuit High School in Stowe, Ohio.

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