The Eagles Should Pounce On Jared Allen

UPDATE: Allen traded to Vikings

The Chiefs have traded Jared Allen to the Minnesota Vikings for a first round pick, and two third round picks in this years draft.

So much for this idea.

Jared Allen

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>>Adiós, One Man Gang: Jared Allen Traded To Vikings (Arrowhead Addict)

Jay Glazer is reporting that the Chiefs are actively shopping Jared Allen, and his days in Kansas City are numbered. He has a meeting with the Minnesota Vikings already set up, and Tampa Bay after them. The Jaguars have also shown some interest, and the Eagles should be.

Jared Allen has gotten better each year in the NFL, and is a premier player in the NFL. He is a very big, and physical end who is very stout against the run, but can also get after the QB. He lead the NFL in sacks in 2007 with 15.5, and has registered 43 total sacks in his short career. He has more career stats that are also very impressive. He got 230 tackles during this span including 76 in 2006. He also has forced 13 career fumbles, and defended 25 passes(batted balls at the line).

His dual threat of being able to stop the run and rush the passer makes him a 3 down player obviously. He would free things up for the rest of the defensive line, and probably help Trent Cole get even more sack chances. Jared Allen would literally change the Eagles defense from average to great.

The Iggles have tried to find a premier end for years now, but have failed miserably. They first traded up in the 2003 draft to select eventual bust Jerome McDougle. The most noteworthy thing McDougle has done since then is get shot. In 2004 the Birds made a huge splash in free agency by signing free agent DE Jevon Kearse to the richest defensive end contract ever(at the time). We all know Kearse was good for about half a season, and then progressively got worse. His lack of production did not equal his huge salary and had to be cut. Then the last attempt at getting  their premier pass rushing DE was the free agent signing of Darren Howard. This signing was very unusual, because Howard had already reached the age of 30. With the Eagles that typically means they will not sign you long term, because many players decline at that age. They signed Howard anyways, and were left with a very expensive backup.

During the time that these busts were added to the team the Eagles did find a diamond in the rough with Trent Cole. Cole made his first Pro-Bowl last year, and is quickly becoming one of the NFL’s best pass rushers. The problem is the Eagles need production from the left end. Right now 2nd year DE Victor Abiamiri is slated to start, and nobody knows what they can expect out of him. Behind him they have Juqua Thomas, who is more of a situational pass rusher, and Chris Clemons who is similar to Thomas. Howard and McDougle are still around, but can we really expect to get anything out of them? History says McDougle will slip on a banana peel and wind up on IR, and Howard will miss 9 games with some sort of muscle strain. There is a huge need here, and Allen can be solution.

There are two obstacles for this deal to get done. First the Eagles would have to work out a long term contract with Allen. Being that Allen is still at the young age of 26 I don’t see why there would be a problem here. The Eagles have enough cap space left to buy the Florida Marlins, and should use it on top flight player like Allen. Once they get a deal worked out, they would then have to give up enough compensation to satisfy the Chiefs. The reported asking price is a first and third round pick, but the Eagles can top that. They have something that the Vikings, Buccaneers, and Jaguars don’t have and that is Lito Sheppard.

It’s no secret that Lito Sheppard is also being shopped around by the Eagles, and hos value is guessed to be worth as a 2nd round pick right now. So to get the Allen deal done you trade Kansas City the 19th pick overall in the draft and Lito Sheppard. This trade would really help out both teams in a big way. The Chiefs have a need for a CB and Lito is still one of the better ones in the NFL. Despite having an injury plagued 2007, he did manage to shut down Randy Moss and Terrell Owens last year. The Chiefs also have major offensive line issues, and they could draft one with the 19th pick. Branden Albert, Jeff Otah, or Chris Williams could be available there. KC would also now be able to draft the best defensive lineman available with the 5th pick(Chris Long, Vernon Gholston, Glenn Dorsey, Sedrick Ellis), instead of reaching for OT Ryan Clady there. The Eagles would get rid of Sheppard who is unhappy here, and finally get the big time defensive end they have wanted for years forever.

The time to act is now though, because Allen may be traded soon. Andy Reid, Tom Heckert, and Joe Banner need to get on the phone with Kansas City, and set up a date to visit Allen before the draft. If they pull this deal off it could send a shock wave throughout Philadelphia full of excitement. Let’s get this done! I am offcially on the Jared Allen bandwagon.

What are your thoughts on Jared Allen? How do you feel about possibly trading for him? Does anybody want to keep Lito?

>>Bye, Bye Jared Allen? (Arrowhead Addict)

>>CHIEFS STATEMENT ON THE STATUS OF DE JARED ALLEN (kcchiefs.com)