Pro Football Focus will be providing analysis for every major NFL signing and trade during the 2015 free-agency period, accounting primarily for the quality of the player and his fit with his new team, and focusing less on the financial terms of the deal.
Here is a grade for the trade between the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints.
Grade articles on every major deal
Chiefs get: LG Ben Grubbs
Saints get: Fifth-round pick
Kansas City Chiefs: B
In 2014, the Chiefs had one of the worst offensive lines in football. In pass protection, they allowed 167 total pressures. Their pass blocking efficiency as a line was 77.2, which was eighth worst in the league, and their run blocking as a whole was also below average. In 2012 and 2013, Ben Grubbs was one of the top five left guards in the game as a player who didn't specialize in one thing, but was good at everything. However, in 2014 he was merely average at everything. He allowed only one sack all season, but 34 total pressures surrendered was just average for his number of pass blocks. He also had more bad outings in the run game than good ones.
If we're to believe Grubbs, who just celebrated his 31st birthday, has already greatly declined then this is just a decent move for the Chiefs. Even Grubbs playing slightly worse than he did in 2014 is an upgrade for Kansas City's line, that's how poor the Chiefs' guard play was this past season. If 2014 was just an off year and Grubbs can continue to be among the best left guards in the game, then it's a great move for the Chiefs.
New Orleans Saints: C-
The Saints have had the worst salary-cap situation in the league this year, and would continue to struggle with the salary cap in future years if not for deals like this. The deal helps them in future years, but with Drew Brees at his age, the team needs to win now or it might as well trade him, too. It gives them $6 million in dead money and a hole in the offensive line which doesn't help them this year, but it does give them a draft pick and future cap space to build for the future.