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Posted: 04/23/2008

Chiefs agree to send Allen to Vikings for three draft picks

NFL.com Wire Reports

Greg Trott/Getty Images
Jared Allen will provide the Vikings with a much-needed pass rusher.


The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to trade Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen to the Minnseota Vikings, reports NFL Network's Adam Schefter.

The Chiefs will receive Minnesota's first- (17th overall) and both of its third-round picks (73rd and 82nd) as compensation. The teams also swapped spots in the sixth round, with Minnesota getting Kansas City's 187th overall pick, and the Chiefs getting the Vikings' 182nd selection. The Chiefs gained five spots in the sixth round to go along with the 17th, 73rd and 82nd overall picks.

Jared Allen, DE
Minnesota Vikings

2007 Stats:
Games: 14
Tackles: 64
Sacks: 15.5

» Stats: 2007 statistical leaders
» Free agency: Franchise amounts

Kansas City has been looking to acquire additional draft picks in an attempt to speed up coach Herm Edwards' rebuilding project for a team that lost its last nine games in 2007 and finished 4-12.

The Vikings and Allen agreed on a six-year, $73.26 million deal that includes $31 million in guaranteed money. The deal will pay $38.4 million in the first three years. Allen flew to Minnesota on Tuesday night in anticipation of Wednesday's events.

The Vikings fill a need by adding Allen to their front four. The Pro Bowl starter had a league-leading 15.5 sacks in 2007 along with 67 tackles, three forced fumbles and 18 pressures in only 14 games.

“I’m excited to meet the fans at the Vikings Draft Party on Saturday.” Allen said. “I look forward to jumping into this head first and engulfing myself in purple and gold. I am ready to play some football and win some games.”

As for Allen's old team, the Chiefs need offensive linemen and defensive backs, two position groups that scouts believe to be in abundance. The Chiefs already owned the No. 5 overall pick in the draft, and now have 13 selections with the trade, including six of the first 82 picks.

“This was a win-win situation for both teams and Jared Allen,” Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards said. “This was the right decision for our football team. While Jared has developed into an outstanding football player, this trade gives us an opportunity to acquire even more talented players who can form the foundation of our team. We’ve said all along that we intend to build our program through the draft and we’ll continue to do that.”

It's a hefty price for the Vikings, who were 8-8 last year. However, defensive end was their top priority after losing Kenechi Udeze to leukemia and with first-round pick Erasmus James coming off a third knee surgery. Allen will team with Pro Bowlers Kevin Williams and Pat Williams to form one of the league's most formidable defensive lines.

Before trading the 26-year-old Allen to the Vikings, the Chiefs also talked with Tampa Bay about Allen.

General manager Carl Peterson's relationship with Allen has been strained ever since Peterson, in the wake of Allen's DUI convictions, described him as "a young man at risk." Allen, who could be suspended for a season if he has another alcohol-related episode, had said he would not negotiate with Kansas City if he didn't get a contract done by next July.

After reaching an impasse, the Chiefs made Allen their franchise player on Feb. 7, but did not put the exclusive tag on him, as they did on tight end Tony Gonzalez when he was franchised in 2002.

That made it possible for Allen and his agent to talk with other clubs and be examined by their team doctors.

Allen was suspended the first two games by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last season for multiple DUI convictions. But Allen says he has stopped drinking entirely, a claim backed up by close friends.

"I've seen Jared at a big party, out on the dance floor, where everybody is drinking except one person. It's Jared, and he's having the best time of everybody," said former Chiefs fullback Boomer Grigsby.

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In his first game back from the suspension against the Vikings, he had nine tackles, two sacks, a pressure and a pass defended. He also forced Adrian Peterson to fumble.

Just 26 and in his prime, the 6-foot-6, 270-pound Allen was a supplemental fourth-round pick by the Chiefs out of Idaho State in 2004. He quickly established himself as a top-flight pass-rusher, but also has a tendency to over-pursue and sometimes gets out of position on running plays.

Allen was recognized as the premier defensive player in NCAA Division I-AA as a senior, but fell to the fourth round because of character concerns.

The Chiefs, coming off a 4-12 season and undergoing a massive rebuilding campaign, have their own fifth overall selection, six of the first 82 picks and 13 altogether in this weekend's draft.

Knowing they were going to embark on a youth movement under Edwards, the Chiefs began hoarding extra selections last year. They were worried, however, that their supplemental picks were only in the later rounds.

“The compensation for Jared Allen was appropriate and specific to this draft and we believe will enhance the future of our football team,” Peterson said. “No one likes to lose an outstanding football player, however, to receive three high draft choices for one player is an easy decision regarding the future of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs concerns were for appropriate draft round compensation for the services of Jared Allen. We wish Jared the very best.”

This is the first time the Chiefs have had two selections in the first round since 1984, when the team chose NT Bill Maas (fifth overall) and T John Alt (21st overall).

Information from the Associated Press was included in this report

 
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