Take this for what it's worth. . .this information comes from an Insider article that was published on Viking Update. Per protocol and common decency, I'm not going to link to the article here (and, hey, even if I did, you couldn't read it anyway), but the jist of it is this:
The Vikings' offer to the Chiefs for Jared Allen now consists of their #17 overall pick in the 2008 Draft, their #73 overall pick in the 2008 Draft, and a second-round selection in the 2009 Draft.
On the surface, all one can say is "wow." Because, honestly, it looks like a lot at first glance. But after a closer look, it really doesn't seem so terrible. Consider this for a moment.
Our first round pick was, more than likely, going to be spent on a defensive end anyway. If given the choice, who would you rather have. . .a proven commodity like Jared Allen? Or a guy that "might" work out like Derrick Harvey or Phillip Merling? Hell, how many first-round defensive ends has this team drafted since Chris Doleman was traded away with no real success? If you need to be reminded, here's the list:
1995 - Derrick Alexander (11th overall)
1996 - Duane Clemons (16th overall)
1999 - Dimitrius Underwood (29th overall. . .and, hopefully, this will be the last time that that guy is ever mentioned on this site)
2004 - Kenechi Udeze (20th overall)
2005 - Erasmus James (18th overall)
Kevin Williams was drafted as a DE, but I really don't think we're going to count him. Five times since the Vikings traded Chris Doleman to the Atlanta Falcons, they've drafted a DE in Round 1. . .and they've taken some shots in Round 2 as well with guys like Michael Borieau and Kailee Wong.
Take a good look at that list. . .include Borieau and Wong if you want. Of those seven guys, the only one that can't be classified as total crap at this point is Udeze. . .and even he hasn't developed into quite the pass rush guy that the Vikings hoped he'd be when they drafted him out of USC. Unfortunately, there's a chance that we'll never know if he could have developed into such a player. . .but I certainly hope we do. (Get well soon, BKU!)
So, then, if the choice is between taking a risk on Derrick Harvey or Phillip Merling or acquiring one of the 4-5 best defensive ends in the NFL. . .I think the choice is pretty much a no-brainer.
The third rounder we're offering in the trade? Hell, we stole that pick from Denver. It's only right that we use it for something bigger. Essentially, we trade away a pick that really wasn't ours to begin with.
And the second rounder in 2009? Come on. . .how much value does the 32nd pick in the second round have, anyway? (Okay. . .maybe as high as, say, 28th or so.)
So really, when it comes down to it, we'd be dealing next year's second round pick for Jared Allen. Who could possibly have a problem with that? That's the way I see it, anyway. . .as always, your mileage may vary.