The Chiefs concluded their trade of Pro-bowl defensive end Jared Allen to the Minnesota Vikings. Allen, a fourth round pick in 2004, is 26 years old and led the NFL last season in sacks, despite missing the first two games.
Allen was not the anchor of the Chiefs defense but he was their enforcer. His presence was felt each game and now the Chiefs will attempt to replace him with a luck-of-the-draw draft pick.
If you are re-building a team it would make sense to get rid of someone who is on the downhill side of their career. Allen, at 26, is far from joining Michael Strahan in contemplating retirement. This begs the question of whether the Chiefs know how to build a team?
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Who trades a proven commodity for entirely unknown quantities? It isn't as if the Chiefs traded him to Atlanta and now hold the number three overall pick along with number five. They traded what amounts to a top five player for a number 17 pick and two third round picks!
This brings to light further debate about the Chiefs picks in the upcoming draft. Will they use them wisely? Will they trade down and attempt to gather more picks in the hope that they can stumble across another Jared Allen, minus the partying problem? Will they show some draft savvy and not use bird-shot to bring down a lion?
The top choices for the Chiefs now appear to be Vernon Gholston, Glenn Dorsey, Jake Long, and Leodis McKelvin to fulfill their needs and pick number five. Number 17 could then be Jeff Otah, Derrick Harvey, Mike Jenkins, or Chris Williams, depending on availability.
Have the Chiefs just taken a step back in their rebuilding of a faltering team? Will this choice prove Carl Peterson is no longer the man for the job as Chiefs GM? The path to the draft just got a whole lot indirect for the Chiefs.
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8 months ago
The Chiefs have done a great job in the draft in the previous years (specifically Johnson (Larry and Derek), Hali, Allen, Bowe, the list continues). I expect that to continue this year.
I am assuming they will take Long (DE) at 5 and take a tackle at 17.
Peterson has proven his prowess in the Draft and we can only hope that this year's selections will continue that success.
from 8 months ago
Marcus I hope you are right because if the Chiefs select a pair of 1st rounders and they don't live up to what Allen had become then they will regret this decision. You say that they have made good draft decisions? Allen was a 4th rounder that they lucked out on. That is like saying that the Patriots were brilliant for selecting Tom Brady in the 6th round. If your list continues I'd like to see it. LJ and Bowe are the only 2 brilliant selections. Derek Johnson has had injury problems and Hali seems average at this point. Ryan Sims is with Tampa now along with Sylvester Morris. No, you named all of their good 1st round picks since 1997 and Tony Gonzalez. Now that list of good players is really 3 proven commodities with one, Derek Johnson, looking very promising and the other, Hali, looking average. Trading Allen might not have been a terrible move but wow their draft selection since '97 has been questionable.
8 months ago
I understand he was disgruntled... but IMO this trade still doesn't make any sense. It would have been better to keep Allen around, I think... unless, of course, they get two impact players to one. Time will tell, I suppose.
8 months ago
Jason
i'll agree, my add-on of "and the list continues" was exaggeratory.
What I am trying to say is that sometimes the rebuilding process calls for unpopular decisions. Any self-respecting Chiefs fan is a fan of Jared Allen's play on the field. He is tenacious and has a non stop motor. But I really think that he is replaceable. Long has the NFL pedigree and it is no secret that the Chiefs have holes on the O-Line. I will miss Jared on the D-Line but I think this move, giving us 6 picks in the first 3 rounds, really makes sense for the Chiefs.
8 months ago
I think this is a great move for the Chiefs you get an extra first round pick and two third rounders for an alcoholic who is one slip up away from getting resupended. Tell me how this is a bad move?Not to mention how much did his high sack totals really help your team out anyway? You didnt win but 4 games even with his 15.5 sacks so exactly how much was he really helping you?And I dont care how good Allen was getting 3 players for 1 is always a better deal in my oppinion expecially when the "1"player in question happens to have a drinking problem.
8 months ago
I still dont like giving up 3 players for 1 but maybe this could help both teams as long as Allen keeps his nose clean and registers double figures in sacks,as for the Chiefs hopefully they rebuild wisely using the picks they aquire. Ive been doing alot of hating on Jared Allen but honestly I hope this works out well on both sides.
8 months ago
The Chiefs selections made them look much more intelligent than I thought they would be. They were lucky to grab Dorsey and then also the guard. I was hoping to see them trade back and try to get a couple more 1st round picks, say from Dallas. However, if they have addressed their needs and improve, though not next year, it may have been a successful draft. I'd like to see at least 2 more miserable years for Chiefs fans so that we can get a few more draft choices that are high.
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