Matt Cassel Could Make A Difference In Detroit

You read it right—Detroit's next starting quarterback should be Matt Cassel. It makes sense for both the Patriots and the Lions. The trade would look like this:

Lions get Matt Cassel and Patriots' original second round pick [No. 58 overall]. Patriots get Lions' second round pick [No. 33 overall] and Detroit's first round choice in 2010.

From the Lions perspective

You have two first round picks in this year's draft and you also have your franchise quarterback. Sounds good, doesn't it?

You don't take the risk of picking and overpaying an unproved quarterback with the first overall choice and you decide to go safe as Miami did last year—take the top-ranked offensive lineman in Andre Smith. So, you have your starting left tackle for the next 10 years, a great No. 1 receiver, a running back that showed flashes last year and your franchise quarterback. Oh, and you also have your last year's first round choice in Cherilus that will protect the other side. You should look for a good No. 2 receiver in free agency like Jabar Gaffney or Amani Toomer and must resign Shaun McDonald. Let Cassel do the rest. Suddenly, your offense seems to have some life.

What to do with the No. 20 pick overall? Now you can go the other side of the ball and take your future defensive-captain in James Laurinaitis/Brian Cushing or the best defensive lineman available. Also, with your new second round choice, you should take a cornerback, you'll find some good value there. The next rounds you should look for is for depth, especially on defense.

There you have it Lions—I'm sure with this you'll have more than five wins and a promising future. Oh, and look for this to be the next year's Thanksgiving Game in Detroit: New England at Detroit. Great storyline, right?.

From the Patriots perspective...

Now you have enough cap space and draft picks to rebuild both the defense and the offensive line to protect whoever is going to be the quarterback.

First of all, you can consider this trade: the Raiders get the Patriots' first round pick this year and their first round pick in 2010. The Patriots then get Nnamdi Asomugha and the Raiders' second round pick in 2010. The Raiders will have extra picks to make a better team, and the Patriots will get a great boost in their secondary. Al Davis knows trading Randy Moss for a fourth round pick wasn't a smart move and if the Patriots want a franchise-tagged Asomugha, they should give him the two first round picks. By the way, I think two first round picks and a fourth for Asomugha, Moss and a second rounder is a good move.

If that trade doesn't happen, here is what the Patriots may do with their day one draft pick, although it is impossible to know what is going to happen.

First round [No. 23 overall]

Draft Tyson Jackson if he's available. He could be the next Richard Seymour, whose contract ends after next season. Despite Jarvis Green being a good player, he is older than Seymour and his cap hit isn't the best for a non-starter. He may be cut this offseason. Let Tyson Jackson learn the system this year by being Seymour's backup and you'll have your right defensive end starter for the next five or six years.

If Jackson isn't on the board, the Patriots may go tight end once again in the first round, taking Brandon Pettigrew. Considering that both Ben Watson and David Thomas' contracts end after this season, this looks like a great move to me. In the case that both Jackson and Pettigrew are gone, the Patriots should take Jerod Mayo's complement—Brian Cushing/James Laurinaitis.

Second round [No. 33 overall, from Lions]

This is the pick for an outside line backer or a pass rusher. It doesn't matter if the Patriots trade for Asomugha because with this pick you can get a first round talent for second round money. Clay Matthews, Larry English, Aaron Maybin or Clint Sintim should be available. Take one from that group and you'll have your next Mike Vrabel.

Second round [No. 47 overall, from Chargers]

Time to take an offensive lineman or a cornerback, depending on the Asomugha thing. If quarterback Tom Brady is going to be the starter, he will need better protection because of his knee. If Kevin O'Connell is going to start, he'll need better protection to lead the offense. Phil Loadholt, Eben Britton, Alex Boone, Max Unger and Herman Johnson may be available. This is a good move considering Neal and Koppen's age and Kaczur inhability to be a solid starter at right offensive tackle

There you have it. I am a Patriots fan and I think this is going to be a very busy offseason for Bill Belichick and Co. In this case, I think this is a win-win situation for the teams involved. With the cap space generated by Cassel's departure, I'm looking for the Patriots to sign Wilfork to an extension and look for another No. 2 receiver in free agency than re-signing Gaffney. What are your thoughts?