NEW ORLEANS, March 26 (UPI) -- The New Orlean Saints Tuesday traded seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle Willie Roaf to the Kansas City Chiefs for a fourth-round pick in the 2003 draft.
With New Orleans trying to create room under the salary cap, the deal was expected but reportedly held up until Roaf worked out a new contract with the Chiefs.
There were reports the pact is for six years and worth $21 million with a $3.5 million signing bonus. The trade freed up $2.5 million in cap space for the Saints.
Based on Roaf's playing time in 2002, the pick could escalate to a third-rounder. Roaf played only seven games last season before suffering a right knee injury. He had surgery in late November to repair a torn ligament.
Roaf was the eighth overall pick out of Louisiana Tech in 1993. He started all 16 games at right tackle as a rookie before making seven consecutive Pro Bowls at the left side, a streak that was snapped this past season.
With the Saints struggling, Roaf told management he would rather play elsewhere.
"We facilitated that move at his request," Saints general manager Randy Mueller said. "If we were going to lose a player of William's caliber, it was important to us to get a draft pick in return."
The deal also worked out for the Saints, who wanted to create room under the salary cap in order to sign free agents.
New Orleans has acquired two extra draft picks for 2003, including a conditional third-round choice that could jump to a second- or first-round selection in the deal that sent running back Ricky Williams to Miami.
"The additional draft picks that we have acquired this year and in the early rounds next year will also impact this team for years to come," Mueller said.
In trading Williams, the Saints also acquired first- and fourth-round picks in 2002 while losing a fourth-round choice.
