Matt Cassel: QB's Performance Should Have Chiefs Fans Thinking NFL Draft

April can’t come soon enough for the Kansas City Chiefs.

On Sunday, the Chiefs lost 26-16 to the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium and Matt Cassel played a major role in the letdown. If fans weren’t already debating whether the Chiefs should target Matt Barkley or Geno Smith in the 2012 NFL Draft, then his performance in Week 8 got them talking.

Cassel turned the football over twice, and while he ended up completing 20 of 30 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown, most of his positive statistics were earned in garbage time. Just ask KC Chiefs Blog, which tweeted as Kansas City’s offense finally began to march after the game’s outcome had been decided:

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4th quarter Matt Cassel! He loves padding his stats late in blowouts. #chiefs

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"— KC Chiefs Blog (@KCChiefsBlog) October 28, 2012"

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The Chiefs definitely aren’t the most pitiful 1-6 team of all time. Their roster is flooded with talent. If they get a hold of a legitimate franchise quarterback, their rebuilding process should be fairly quick.

Of course, on top of a QB, a respectable front office would come in handy.

Will Brinson of CBS Sports questioned Kansas City’s play-calling, tweeting:

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Matt Cassel (7) has more rushes than Jamaal Charles (5). Chiefs can't figure out why they're losing 26-9.

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"— Will Brinson (@willbrinson) October 28, 2012"

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Charles finished the contest with four yards on five carries. That’s the same halfback that racked up 288 yards from scrimmage earlier in the season.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the claim that Charles is the most talented playmaker on the Chiefs’ offense is a fact, not an opinion. Why then are Dexter McCluster, Peyton Hillis and Shaun Draughn stealing his carries? Those three combined for more rushes on the afternoon than Charles.

Kansas City decided to put the ball in the hands of Cassel and several good (but not great) weapons instead of Charles, and they paid for it.

It’s okay, though. A combination of Barkley/Smith and Bill Cowher/Jon Gruden would instantly turn the franchise around.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels