Matt Cassel traded to Bills

The Buffalo Bills acquired quarterback Matt Cassel via trade on Wednesday from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for two undisclosed draft selections, the team announced.

Cassel, 32, played two seasons with the Vikings, but signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the team in March 2014 and has one year left on his contract. He began his career with the New England Patriots and was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009, along with linebacker Mike Vrabel, for a second-round pick.

This is already the second trade executed by the Bills during the Rex Ryan era, less than two months after he was hired as the team's head coach in January. On Tuesday, the Bills acquired running back LeSean McCoy from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso.

Following the abrupt and unceremonious retirement of Kyle Orton, the only quarterbacks left on the Bills roster were EJ Manuel and Jeff Tuel. The team previously attempted to sign Josh McCown, who landed with the Cleveland Browns instead, and didn't have very many other options in a free agency class that will feature Jake Locker, Brian Hoyer and Mark Sanchez as the most viable candidates.

The Bills don't have many options in the 2015 NFL Draft either after trading away this year's first-round pick as part of the deal to acquire wide receiver Sammy Watkins. That makes Cassel a serviceable stopgap to provide competition, while the team waits for Manuel to take the next step or looks to find a long-term solution at quarterback.

Cassel was named the starter over Teddy Bridgewater for the Vikings, but broke his foot in Week 3 and was sent to injured reserve. In three starts in 2014, Cassel managed 425 passing yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions while the Vikings got off to a 1-2 start.