It's been noted around here time and time again that Kansas City Chiefs GM Scott Pioli likes to deal with folks with whom he's familiar. Free agents signed off the street have many times come from the New England Patriots, Pioli's former home. There's nothing necessarily wrong with this because it's natural to deal with the known rather than the unknown.
So far, the Chiefs GM has only traded with familiar partners.
New England Patriots (Bill Belichick)
- Chiefs trade for Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel (give up 2009 2nd round pick)
Miami Dolphins (Bill Parcells)
- Chiefs trade for Jake O'Connell in NFL draft (give up 2010 7th round pick)
- Chiefs trade for Ikechuku Ndukwe and Andy Alleman (give up undisclosed 2010 draft pick)
- Chiefs trade Tyler Thigpen (receive undisclosed 2010 draft pick)
Atlanta Falcons (Thomas Dimitroff)
- Chiefs trade Tony Gonzalez (receive 2010 2nd round pick)
We talk a lot about Pioli sticking with players with which he's familiar. And, taking a look at the trades the Chiefs have made since he's been around, that's pretty accurate.
Two of the trades appear to be well done (Gonzalez, Cassel/Vrabel and Thigpen) while the others we won't understand the full scope for a few years.