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Earlier on Saturday, we floated the possibility of the Minnesota Vikings signing Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen to an offer sheet after the 2008 draft. If the Chiefs choose not to match the offer, they would be stuck with the Vikings’ first-round draft picks in 2009 and 2010.
Several readers asked whether such a move would be permissible, citing the Friday, April 18 deadline for signing players to offer sheets. Though vague, the CBA seemed to indicate that the pre-draft deadline applies only to restricted free agents, and not to franchise players. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed for us that there is no pre-draft deadline for signing franchise players to offer sheets.
Thus, if the Vikings believe that the team is going to be a solid contender over the next few years in a so-so NFC North (especially after Brett Favre’s retirement), why not make the run at Allen after the draft? The first-round picks in 2009 and 2010 will be low.
They’ll be even lower if the players whom the Vikes land in a 2008 draft that is deep but not top-heavy become solid contributors.
In our view, it’s a no-brainer. The Vikings should sign Allen to an offer sheet with a poison pill the moment after exercising the 17th overall selection in round one.
April 19th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
I say if the Vikes want to give up two first rounders and pay Dwight Freeney type money for Jarred Allen, then fine by me. I would prefer to get a first and second round picks this year, but either way its ok.
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April 19th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
“No-brainer” is a pretty accurate term here, because there’s no brain being used. Since when are first round draft picks, whenever they come in the round, so easily dismissable? Even if signing Jared Allen makes all the Vikings dreams come true and they win the Super Bowl two straight years, good luck maintaining without a 1st round draft pick until 2011.
And wasn’t this lesson learned last year? The Cowboys took the Browns’ first round pick, no doubt thinking the Browns would stink again and they’d get a high pick out of it. Whoops. And the 49′ers gave up their first pick thinking all their great free agent additions would give them a high pick. Whoops again.
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April 19th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Gotta love that poison pill clause that they have used on in the past. Who cares if it pisses off other teams….whatever the team can do within the NFL guidelines to better itself and win a championship before they move to LA the better.
GO VIKES
(just not to LA)
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April 19th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Sure, the NFL is a great role model for all sports in almost every aspect. However, this is a low blow. Two 1st round drat picks always sounds good but just the way this article is worded, this is not very cool for the Chiefs. The posion pill is plain and simple crap no mater who you are.
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April 19th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Great analysis, but there’s one think that crosses my mind.
If Carl Peterson is trying to rebuild this year and wants the p[icks this year, then he could wait for Allen to go to Tampa Bay and make a deal for a #1 and a #4 this year.
TB is a contender, like Allen wants and if they make an offer he likes (one in the hand . . .) Then the Vikings screwed themselves by playing games.
But Allen would have to accept the TB offer over the Vikings.
Would Minnesota actually let him leave with only a verbal promise???
AND TB would remember the Plummer deal, so signing would have to preceed trade.
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April 19th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Why give up 2 first round picks that you have no idea where they will be when you can deal one now that is known?
Allen isn’t worth 2 number 1’s.
As far them being low…Adrian Peterson blows a knee week one and Jackson fails to take the next step and the Vikings win 6 games in 2008.
There is no promise of Minnesota winning big anytime soon. Green Bay figures to be pretty damn good for the next few years and I think Chicago can rebound and get back to 9,10 wins. Detroit is due sometime aren’t they?
The passrusher Minny wants is probably going to Detroit….so just send KC that pick now and be done with it.
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April 19th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I’m sure if that were to happen the Chiefs would quickly get on the phone and try to salvage what they could from the Vikings to get something back in this draft. The Vikings would likely consider it as giving away anything less than two #1’s is better than the alternative.
I’m thinking the Chiefs will culminate the deal before the draft and will take Gholston at #5 and get Allen’s replacement on board ASAP and then have a luxury pick at #17.
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April 19th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
If the Vikes signed him to an offer sheet on Sunday, and it takes a week for KC to decide whether or not to match, then they’d still retain their ‘08 pick because the deal would not be official until the second day of the draft (next Sunday)… right?
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April 20th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Although I’m not certain which day exactly, I’m aware that Allen will be visiting Tampa Bay this week. However, I haven’t heard anything regarding which team (assuming Tampa and Minnesota are the only two) he favors most. Presumably, he will favor the team offering the most money, but I’d like to know which team is generally believed to be more likely to sign him. Currently, the Vikings are $14 million under the cap, and the Bucs are sitting at a comfortable $25 million under. How much of an advantage, if any, will this create for the Bucs to bring on Allen?
“Wine em’, Dine em’, 69 em’” seems a bit more Tampa, and a little less Minnesota. Oh yeah, when was the last time the Vikings won a Super Bowl? Come on, Jared, Tampa will make ya’ famous!
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April 20th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Assuming the Vikings don’t run out of time on the 17th pick.
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April 20th, 2008 at 12:16 am
Good call, PFT. . .if Carl Peterson thinks he’s going to screw the Vikings over on this deal, he can think again. I can see the crawl on ESPN now. . .
“Vikings sign Chiefs DE Jared Allen to offer sheet; offer contains clause that says Allen, if healthy, must play at least 8 games a year in domed stadiums.”
If Peterson wants anything to show for Jared Allen from this year’s draft, he’ll stop being stupid and play ball. If he doesn’t, even if the Chiefs do get the Vikings’ #1 picks in ‘09 and ‘10, Carl Peterson might not be around to exercise them.
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April 20th, 2008 at 1:05 am
I wouldn’t ever say that giving up two yet to be determined 1st rounders is a “no-brainer”….
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April 20th, 2008 at 1:11 am
Jared Allen was at a high end restaurant in Minneapolis tonight, didn’t look like he was in a hurry to leave town. Was just kind of hanging out. I hope the Vikes do whatever they can to get him. I like the idea of waiting until after the draft. The Vikes kind of invented the poison pill, why not do it again? By the way, for all you skeptics, no, he wasn’t drinking.
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April 20th, 2008 at 1:52 am
That isn’t collusion? A secret agreement between Allen and the Vikings while Allen is a Chief? I mean if he doesn’t go to Tampa and there is this agreement with Minnesota, it doesn’t look good.
In fact, if the Vikings get punished for it, it would be like the situation that happened with another Minnesota general manager: Kevin McHale. As a Minnesota sports fan, your genius plan scares me based on past experiences.
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April 20th, 2008 at 2:01 am
Why is this a no brainer? How is losing 2 firsts better than a first and a 3rd? Because it comes later? I don’t know if I buy that. I guess it really depend on who is there at 17. I guess I just don’t see the logic as being a “no brainer”.
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April 20th, 2008 at 2:02 am
Not even close to a no-brainer.
2 1st rounders for just the talent of Jared Allen is a bit much.
Besides that, the overriding downfall to trading after the draft is that this year’s draft is WEAK. 17 this year may be worth a 33 next year. It’s that weak.
This is a rather foolish “no-brainer”, Florio.
Oh, yeah, and he could pull a Leanord Little, his drink (date rape drug) of choice is Everclear……
First time I’ve registered and logged in, though, been reading since ‘04. Keep it up, you’re about the 4th or 5th site I hit every a.m.
Just buzzed enough to shout out.
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April 20th, 2008 at 3:12 am
Good piece… don’t ask why I am reading at 3 in the morning
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April 20th, 2008 at 3:15 am
I think 2 first round picks is a little pricey for a guy who’s one bad day away from a serious suspention, regardless of the potential
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April 20th, 2008 at 4:26 am
I like the way you think.
I’m for this as a Vikings fan.. Even though parting with 2 first rounders can be a little tough.
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April 20th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Coach Chilly has come out and said 2 1st rounders is too much…although he could be posturing for King Carl’s sake. As many have said, and I agree, coughing up 2 1st rounders is NOT a no brainer, no matter how much I’d like to see Allen in purple.
I still think that Peterson is going to take the best reasonable before the draft which will most likely be the 17th & 73rd overall picks. KC is clearly rebuilding so I don’t see them wanting to fork over $30 mil guaranteed to a “young man at risk” as Peterson calls him.
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April 20th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Just ask yourself if Jared Allen at DE with the Williams at DTs and if the Vikes Defense will be formidable enough for the next couple of years, so that the Vikes will not be drafting in the top 15, then YES….it is a no-brainer. Plus, they get the 17th pick this year.
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April 20th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Why is it that NFL players are like new cars? The minute you take them out of the draft their value plummets. How could a proven pro bowler not be worth a first round pick? I never understood this. To use the Eagles as an example (as I’m most familiar with them) how could Lito, who has played in a pro bowl and is only 26, not be worth making a trade for a team considering drafting a corner? I can understand a truly high pick if the team thinks that the ceiling on the other corner is higher, but if you’re taking the second or third corner in the draft why wouldn’t you want to trade that pick for a 26 year old Probowler??
I never understood how players lose so much value. If I were Harbaugh, I’d JUMP at McNabb with #8 overall (assuming the Eagles were willing, which I hope they would not be) rather than taking an unproven Matt Ryan…
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April 20th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
As a true Chiefs fan and not a person that just wants to be a fan this year if they are winning, I love your little poison pill idea. The Chiefs are in a rebuilding mode right now. They aren’t going to do well this year no matter how many high draft picks they have. So, under your scenario, the Chiefs still have 10 draft picks this year, to help establish a foundation (O and D lineman and maybe a QB), and they will have all of their draft picks next year and the year after, with an added 1st rounder each of those two years, to add high level skill position atheletes (WR, secondary, etc.>>). Sounds like an EXCELLENT rebuilding idea if you ask me. I’m all for it, GO CHIEFS! Look for them in the playoffs 2010-2011, I’m young, I can wait.
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April 20th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
If I were the Chiefs, I would wait until pick 17 is on the clock (doubtful MN does anything with it before then), see who is available, then decide if there is someone available to make a lesser offer for Allen viable. If someone has fallen and will make a 1 this year and 2 next year worthwhile, (if that is what MN is offering) then go for it. IF not, let it ride and take the picks in the next 2 years. Doubtful a top DE falls to 17. The beauty is knowing exactly who is available to them, or to the Vikes. Both teams are in a better position to see how it shakes out. All this, provided that somebody else doesn’t make a trade for him.
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April 20th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Just as long as Mike Tice has no say in this, I think we are ok…do the deal!
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