Chiefs Ink Quarterback Cassel To Multi-Year Deal

July 14, 2009 9:32 p.m. EST

Kansas City, MO (AHN) - The Kansas City Chiefs locked up their quarterback for the long term, signing Matt Cassel to a multi-year deal Tuesday.

Multiple media outlets put Cassel's contract at six years worth $63 million, including $28 million in guaranteed money and $40.5 million for the first three seasons.

The 27-year-old signal caller was given the franchise tag by his former team, the New England Patriots, and was due to receive $14.651 million this campaign.

But in one of the most surprising moves of the offseason, the Patriots shipped Cassel and veteran linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Chiefs for a second-round pick in the 2010 draft.

Cassel heads to the 2009 season on the heels of last year's impressive stint as the Patriots' quarterback with the injury to Tom Brady.

Before 2008, the USC product played just 14 games and totaled 253 yards and two touchdowns.

But he thrusted himself among the elite at his position by nailing 327 of 516 passes in 16 games, finishing with a 10-5 mark in 15 starts with 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Cassel just fell short of taking New England to another playoff berth as the Patriots went 11-5 in the regular season.