During the offseason, Jay Glazer of FOXSports has roughly the same profile as Punxsutawney Phil. 

But when Glazer emerges from hibernation, he comes with something more than a hairy ass and tail.

Glazer reports that the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to trade defensive end Jared Allen before the draft.  The two suitors are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Minnesota Vikings.

Allen, who bears the franchise tag, tells Glazer that he’ll visit with the Vikings this weekend in Minnesota, and that he plans to meet with the Bucs next week.

“It’s a situation that works out best for both sides,” Allen told Glazer.  “I can go to a team that is competing for a championship right now.  The Chiefs can get valuable draft picks to rebuild with.”

The deal will be driven by two things — compensation to the Chiefs, and a new deal for Allen.  As to the former, the Chiefs surely will want at least a first-round pick.  They probably will want even more, such as a third-rounder.  Minnesota holds the No. 17 overall pick in round one, and Tampa has the No. 20 selection.

As to the latter, Allen might want the same six-year, $72 million package paid last year to Dwight Freeney by the Colts.  The deal included $30 million in guaranteed money.

The Vikings know what Allen can do.  He returned from a two-game suspension to face Minnesota in Week Three of the 2007 season, and Allen arguably was the reason the Chiefs won the game. 

Speaking of suspensions, that’s the one issue that could hold down the trade package and/or the contract.  Allen has had two DUI arrests in less than a year, and even though he has been clean the risk of a relapse will always be present.

The only potential glitch here is that G.M. Carl Peterson is known to drive a hard bargain.  But the ceiling on the demands is two first-round draft picks, since any team could snag Allen, if they’re willing to ship two first-rounders to K.C.