The Kansas City Chiefs are open to trading Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen, which is interesting because he's a premier player at a premier position.
|
|
| The Chiefs are interested in shopping defensive end Jared Allen around. (Getty Images) |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings are interested, and he's expected to visit with those teams, but the Jacksonville Jaguars could be as well.
Allen is one of the best pass rushers in the league, and the Jaguars are desperate for pass-rush help. If the price is a first-round pick and maybe a fourth-round pick, the Jaguars might be in the game.
Minnesota has the 17th pick in the first round, while the Jaguars have the 26th. Tampa Bay's first-round pick is 20th. The Jaguars have extra picks to use as ammunition because they traded defensive tackle Marcus Stroud to the Buffalo Bills for third- and fifth-round picks.
The one negative about trading for Allen is his resume includes a suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse program. He has two DUIs that led to the suspension. But reportedly he hasn't been drinking since the suspension. But the next misstep will lead to a one-year suspension, which is why there is risk involved.
The Chiefs designated Allen as their franchise player, but have been unable to reach a long-term deal. With a rebuilding process going on in Kansas City, dealing Allen would be the smart thing.
The team that makes a deal for him would also have to give Allen a long-term deal. That means paying him and paying with picks. That's always risky, but in this case it might be worth it.
Allen is 26 and he's coming off a season in which he had 15½ sacks.
