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Bills Keep Trade Train Rolling; Acquire Cassel To Go With McCoy

Written By Bob Harris | fantasy football | Posted 04-Mar-15 @ 12:03 PT

As the team's official web site framed it: "The Bills are making it clear they’re not going to rely on free agency to fill their positional needs on offense. ..." Indeed, one day after sending linebacker Kiko Alonso to Philadelphia in exchange for Eagles star running back LeSean McCoy, Buffalo made another fantasy football-friendly move today by addressing the quarterback position.

The Bills agreed to terms on a trade with the Minnesota Vikings that will send two undisclosed draft choices to Minnesota in exchange for Matt Cassel and an undisclosed draft pick.

Cassel, 32, is a 10-year veteran who spent the last two seasons with Minnesota making nine starts. He completed almost 60 percent of his passes with 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions and a starting record of 4-5 for a Vikings club that finished 5-10-1 in 2013 and 7-9 last season.

In his career Cassel has thrown for close to 16,000 yards with 96 touchdowns and 70 interceptions and a passer rating of 80.1. He has 71 starts in 91 game appearances.

Cassel served as a mentor of sorts to rookie Teddy Bridgewater in Minnesota this past season, but he’s expected to push third-year quarterback EJ Manuel for the starting role in Buffalo.

Although there are reports that McCoy is frustrated by the trade, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the final piece of McCoy's trade to Buffalo will be a revised contract for McCoy. He currently has no guaranteed money in 2016, which could change. A source familiar with the Bills thinking told Rapoport the team will "take very good care of him."

The addition of a veteran quarterback who has proven capable of managing an offense when he's on his game would be another step in the right direction and further indication the Bills intend to go with a "ground and pound" approach under new head coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Greg Roman.

For the record, much like the McCoy deal, the move to acquire Cassel can't become official until March 10 at 4 pm eastern time. But just like with the McCoy trade, assume it's done until further notice.