Chiefs Confirm Ben Grubbs Trade With Saints
The Kansas City Chiefs have confirmed that they have made a trade with the New Orleans Saints for guard Benn Grubbs.
From the Chiefs:
"“We acquired a very good football player via trade with the New Orleans Saints today,” Chiefs General Manager John Dorsey said. “Ben is a talented veteran that has played a key role on a number of productive NFL offenses. He’s smart, physical, and we believe he will be a good addition to our offensive line.”Grubbs (6-3, 310) has played in 122 games (118 starts) in eight NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints (2012-14) and Baltimore Ravens (2007-11). He has served primarily as a left guard. Grubbs is a two-time Pro Bowler, earning his first selection in 2011 and his most recent in 2013. The Eclectic, Alabama, native, has protected the blindsides of two Super Bowl winning quarterbacks in Drew Brees and Joe Flacco. Grubbs earned a spot on the Pro Football Weekly/PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2007."
According to multiple sources, the Chiefs traded a 5th-round draft selection to New Orleans in the deal.
Grubbs is 31 and his play has declined recently, leading the Saints to look for a trade partner to take on the guard’s salary. Even with diminishing skills, however, Grubbs will upgrade the Chiefs’ offensive line. With Rodney Hudson departing in free agency, KC desperately needed a veteran presence to help stabilize things.
While the addition of Grubbs helps, the Chiefs still have a huge holes all over their offensive line. Both starting spots and depth are a problem so look for KC GM John Dorsey to continue to make moves.
No doubt the Chiefs hope their trade for Grubbs works out as well as another time the team traded for an offensive lineman from the Saints.
Back in 2001, KC traded for lineman Willie Roaf, who was coming off a season-ending injury. A future Hall of Famer, Roaf played four more Pro Bowl seasons in KC before retiring.
If Grubbs returns to Pro Bowl form in Kansas City, that would be a bonus. If he is average, well, that would be an upgrade over what the Chiefs had last year.